Over the 12 months, it is develop into commonplace for Google to shutdown one in every of its many merchandise every so often. There’s a whole web site dedicated to protecting monitor of the providers “Killed by Google(opens in a new tab).”
However, this one could be very surprising.
Google is exiting the area identify registration enterprise. In a press release(opens in a new tab) revealed on Thursday, Google and Squarespace announced(opens in a new tab) that the web site builder can be buying Google Domains for $180 million.
As a part of the deal, Squarespace would develop into the brand new area identify registrar for the greater than 10.1 million domains already registered with Google Domains by Google’s clients.
The acquisition would make Squarespace one of many largest domain name registrars(opens in a new tab) on the planet, behind solely GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Tucows in complete variety of registered domains.
“Domains are a important a part of net infrastructure and a vital piece of each enterprise’s on-line presence,” mentioned Squarespace founder and CEO Anthony Casalena in an announcement. “We look ahead to serving these new clients as we have now served tens of millions utilizing our area merchandise and are dedicated to making sure a seamless transition.”
Google Domains solely just lately emerged from beta
Google initially launched Google Domains in 2014, nonetheless, the service remained in beta(opens in a new tab) up till March 2022. Primarily based on the gross sales copy on the Google Domains web site, Google appeared to view the service as a strategy to enhance its enterprise electronic mail and app product, Google Workspace, previously often known as G Suite. Paying Google Workspace subscribers can use their very own electronic mail tackle with Gmail as a part of the service and Google Domains offered a seamless method for purchasers to register a website.
Google Domains typically obtained constructive opinions from clients for its easy and centered consumer interface, which was a stark distinction to a few of its opponents who typically supply extra providers like webhosting and area identify aftermarket gross sales.
Google Maps’ Immersive View provides far more cities and landmarks
Nonetheless, in keeping with Google, working a website registrar now not matches into the corporate’s plans. Whereas not explicitly talked about by the corporate, the area identify registrars are notoriously a low margin enterprise, with firms making little or no revenue per area identify registered. That is why many registrars supply these beforehand talked about extra providers.
“In line with our efforts to sharpen our focus, we have now entered right into a definitive settlement with Squarespace for the acquisition of buyer accounts of the Google Domains registrar enterprise,” mentioned Google’s VP and Basic Supervisor of Service provider Buying Matt Madrigal. “Supporting a clean transition for purchasers over the approaching months, with the assistance of the Google Domains group, is our prime precedence.”
It is necessary to notice that Google specifies that it is promoting the Google Domains registrar enterprise, which sells area identify registrations to clients. Google will proceed to run Google Registry, its area identify registry which manages top-level domains underneath Google’s management reminiscent of .app, .how, and .dev amongst others.
In line with Squarespace, the corporate “will honor ” present area identify renewal costs for Google Domains present clients for a minimum of 12 months after the shut of the acquisition. As well as, Squarespace will develop into Google’s unique area identify supplier for Workspace clients for a minimum of three years.
Present area identify clients will stay with Google Domains till the top of the transition interval until, after all, they select to switch their area to a different area identify registrar.
