If you happen to bought a Google Domains URL with an intention of constructing some cool latest website, things might be changing, with Google selling its Domains business to Squarespace for $180 million.
As reported by Bloomberg, Google’s getting out of the domain naming racket, because it continues to chop costs, and re-focus on other, more future-facing elements. Earlier this 12 months, Google announced that it will be culling over 12,000 roles at the corporate, similar to 6% of its global workforce, as a part of a broader effort to sharpen its focus and re-direct key talent to emerging opportunities.
It appears that evidently Google Domains has now change into a casualty of that shift, with Squarespace set to change into the host of the assorted Google Domains URLs.
Originally announced back in 2014, but only brought out of beta last 12 months, a key advantage of Google Domains is that it offers custom URL identifiers, with over 300 domain endings to higher customize your web presence.
That allows a more bespoke web presence, which is an element of Google’s broader offering to construct your corporation presence across its various apps and tools. With integrated, inexpensive domain hosting, via the corporate that rules online search, that proved to be an intriguing choice to many, with over 10 million domains sold – and while they may still be supported by Squarespace, it does look like they’ll hold somewhat less value without that integration.
But you’ll get to maintain your cool .cafe or .media web address if you happen to like, it just won’t include that additional, potential kick of being directly tied into Google’s sorting systems.
It’ll also probably cost you more to maintain, with Squarespace’s current pricing being somewhat higher than those listed on the Google Domains site. But that’ll all be up for assessment as Squarespace takes ownership of the business, and integrates it into its offering.
The sale also suggests that Google’s cost-cutting push will not be over yet, because it looks to re-ignite profit, amid rising competition from latest generative AI tools, in addition to emerging players within the eCommerce space.
Inside that, novelty URLs just don’t hold the identical importance, and it’ll be interesting to see what Squarespace does with the Google listings.