Google exited private testing and launched its retail domain service to customers in the US. Technically this is still a beta service but it is a meaningful step forward from its original announcement last year.
There are some new features and services available with the launch. They include more domain extensions (over 60 now), an improved search and suggestion experience, the ability to browse website templates from site building partners (Wix, Weebly, Squarespace and Shopify) and dynamic DNS. The most interesting new addition was the inclusion of its own blogging platform Blogger to the list of supported website builders. This was not done previously. And a newly simplified dashboard is also worth noting. Google users will now be able to manage manage domains, email and website settings from a single interface.
Google starts eating hosters´ lunch
We noted in our previous commentary that Google is perfectly happy to let its partners host and manage web presence and email for customers. We haven’t strayed from that opinion. But the addition of Blogger does show Google is not going to shy away from letting people consider its services. Blogger probably won’t have much competitive impact but the ability to manage email creates more competitive implications. Google Apps and Gmail in particular are a service that cuts more into what hosters are doing. The other thing to think about is how Google’s dashboard provides a consolidated point of interaction. This is the value proposition that hosters and registrars playing in the SMB space rely on to serve customers and validate their user experience. It will be interesting to see if users like what Google has to offer here.
*Disclosure: Open-Xchange is a Structure Research subscriber