Getting your domain name with Google Apps
Do you have a domain name? Yes, your own? Do you want it cheap with google’s email, calendar and other features?
Why Domain Name?
If you are a blogger, you might want a domain name of your own. It could be your name or any unique name you can think. But of course it is subject to availabilty.
Is tictechto.blogspot.com or tictechto.com better?
Your answer will obviously be the latter. Short and easy to remember. One of the reasons you would want to purchase a domain name.
Do you have an online photo album of your family? Perhaps photos of your kids growing up. You probably have it uploaded into some free services with long URL. eg. flickr.com/photos/myname or http://myname.myphotoalbum.com.
Why dont you register a domain and point it to these online albums?
Why Google Apps to register a domain?
My first blog was a tech blog and I had it hosted it on google’s blogger.com. While edting my settings, 
I noticed an option for purchasing a domain directly from google. Meaning tictechto.com will be redirected to my blog with blogger. The cost US$10 per year – that is about SGD15 at the current exchange rate.
I searched around for other cheap domains and realised I am not going to get any lower than this. Yes, godaddy.com offers at US$9.99. But that is just the domain alone. 
Google actually registers with godaddy.com and provides private registration free or domains by proxy registration free. Meaning, your details are hidden from whois searches. This reduces chances of spam emails and anyone to know your address.
If you get a domain directly from godaddy.com, you will have to fork out additional US$9.99 for the private registration. Why would you want to do that?
What do you get with this?
Well you get all features of Google apps standard edition. You can read more details in the Google Apps page and opt to purchase the Premier Edition at extra cost.
Show me how to register
You don’t have to register for a blogger.com account before purchasing the domain. Just go to google apps. Click on ‘Get Started’ and proceed as instructed. Dont forget to click the “I want to get a new domain” portion
Minor Issue to note
If you have your own web hosting service, you will need to update the DNS servers to your web hoster servers. Then ask your web host support to add the MX records to point to google’s services. Don’t worry they will know what to do.
Conclusion
If you are registering for more than one domain it will be little hassle. Each domain will have a different account to login and manage. Same goes to the domain management control panel.
If you want to have all the domains under one control panel you are better off purchasing directly from godaddy.com. After which you can go to the Google Apps and signup for the apps.
I have three domains with Google Apps and so far have not come across any issues.
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