The Future of Google Domains: Squarespace Acquires Assets in $180 Million Deal
If you have registered a domain name with Google Domains, you might be wondering what will happen to your website and email address. Google has announced that it is selling its domain name registration and DNS delegation business to Squarespace, a popular website builder and hosting platform. The deal is worth $180 million and includes 10 million domains owned by Google customers .
What does this mean for Google Domains customers?
According to Google, the transition to Squarespace will be smooth and seamless for most customers. You will be able to keep your domain name, renewal price, and email service for at least 12 months after the deal closes. Squarespace will also provide incentives for you to build your website with its platform, which offers templates, e-commerce, analytics, and other features.
However, if you are not interested in using Squarespace for your website or email, you might want to consider transferring your domain to another registrar before the migration happens. Squarespace's domain purchasing process is designed for customers who also want to use its web building tools, and it might not offer the same level of flexibility and customization as other registrars. For example, Squarespace does not support subdomains or third-party DNS services.
Additionally, if you are a Google Workspace subscriber who bought a domain from Google along with your subscription, you will also be affected by the deal. Squarespace will become the exclusive domain provider for Workspace customers for the next three years. This means that you will have to pay Squarespace for your domain renewal and support services, instead of Google. You will still be able to use Workspace for your email and productivity apps, but you might lose some integration benefits with Google's ecosystem.
Why is Google selling its domains business?
Google launched Google Domains in 2014 as a beta service and officially released it in 2020. It aimed to provide a simple and affordable way for customers to buy and manage domain names, as well as access other Google services like Workspace, Blogger, and Sites. However, Google Domains never became a major player in the domain name industry, which is dominated by companies like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Tucows.
Google said that the decision to sell its domains business was part of its effort to "sharpen our focus" and that it plans to invest more in its core products like Search, Ads, Cloud, YouTube, and Maps. Google also said that it believes that Squarespace is the best partner for its domains customers, as it can provide an integrated experience of purchasing and managing domains along with offering other tools that customers may need to build their online presence.
Squarespace said that it is "exceptionally proud" to be chosen to serve the customers of Google Domains and that domains are a "critical part of web infrastructure" and an "essential piece of every business's online presence". Squarespace also said that it will leverage its expertise in web design and e-commerce to help customers create beautiful websites that showcase their domains.
The deal between Google and Squarespace is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The actual transfer of domains will take place gradually from 2024 onwards. More details are available here at - https://newsroom.squarespace.com/blog/googledomains
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