Google Domain Registraion

Google is now an ICANN accredited doman registrar

by Robert Morrison
of http://www.oyster-web.co.uk

Last updated: 12 Sep 2007

You can now register domain names through Google.
[http://www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html]

Why would I want to?
Well, Google offer applications for your domain under the name ‘Google Apps’. The service has been available since August 2006, with Google recently adding the opportunity to buy a domain as part of the sign-up process.
[ http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/your-easiest-holiday-task.html]

Tell me more…
Google are providing domain registration through partners GoDaddy.com [http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp] and eNom [http://www.enom.com/].

What’s involved?
The general approach to domain registration begins with checking the availability of the domain you intend to use. Domains aren’t actually bought. By registering for a domain, you are ‘renting’ the name for a fixed period of time, often two years.

Once you have control of the domain you want, you can associate it with your web server so that Internet users can visit your site. You can associate it with your mail server so that you and your users can send and receive email.

What Google are offering is the chance to purchase your domain and attach free Google services including Google email (‘Gmail’) and online calendars. Your users will then be able to use these Google services through a web interface that can be branded according to your company.

What are the Advantages?
It is a quick, easy and cheap way to set up a feature-rich web domain. It may be a useful tool for collaborative working.

What are the implications?
Well, it looks like another push by Google into the applications market, and a tie-up with Google-operated Blogger (www.blogger.com) is likely. Cheap domain names should be attractive to bloggers as the blog-hosting market that is known to be price-sensitive. Sub domains like blogname.blogginghost.com are generally cheaper than personal domain names such as www. blogname.com.