Eight years after Google Domains launched, and a little more than a year after it graduated out of beta, Google is "winding down following a transition period," as part of "efforts to sharpen our focus." That's corporate-ese for "We need to keep cost-cutting, so we're selling this business we just finished shaping up to Squarespace." //

However clean and orderly a transition the two companies try to emulate, the sale cannot help but further Google's image as a company that readily gives up on projects that aren't core to its advertising business, even those that have matured and would seem to encourage a tie-in with Google accounts. //

Goofball_Jones Ars Praefectus
13y
3,532
So, looking back at the Google Graveyard, it seems their ongoing philosophy is "if we can't totally dominate a market with a service, we'll kill the service". I mean, look what is left is just the major things they totally dominate. YouTube, Search, Email, and to some extent, Android. That's why it's a laugh-fest when they announce something new because we all know if they don't dominate the world with it within a year, they'll kill it off.

I picture in the future some service they come up with that will keep you alive well past the usual age of dying....only to kill it off a few years later, telling the people currently on it "you have 30 days to take care of your affairs and say goodbye to your family and friends. Thank you for supporting GoogleLife" //

cdd Smack-Fu Master, in training
2d
1
The $180 million Google gets from the sale doesn't even come close to covering the $226 million they paid Sundar Pichai in 2022 and only serves to erode consumer trust in Google's willingness to continue any of its products. If they need the money, why not just hire a cheaper CEO?