Microsoft Offering Free Domain Name and Hosting for One Year. But is it worth it?

Microsoft Office Live Small Business is providing a free custom domain name (any available .com, .net, .org, or .info), free Web hosting, free e-mail accounts, and more for a price tag set to 0$. Yes, this promo offer set by Microsoft is for one yr of hosting and domain name charges.

The freebie account includes the available domain of your choice, site-building tools, reporting tools, project and document managers, 100 e-mail addresses, and collaboration-minded online workspaces. You get 500MB of storage, too. Once the free hosting expires after an year, you would be required to pay 15$/annum. Check out the offer here.

Image: Microsoft Office Free Domain and Hosting plan.

So why am i not be going for this offer?

1.) Though, the offer looks like a quick grab,from a security point of view, Microsoft Servers are the first targets for Rootkits and other botnets or crackers.

2.) Though, Microsoft is providing 500 MB of storage, what about the Bandwidth? I didnt read about the bandwidth anywhere.

3.) You cannot install your own software. What this means is that you cannot go ahead and install Wordpress, Drupal or any other CMS software of your choice.

4.) Microsoft provides you with free templates and site builder stuff, using those templates and site builder software. As a customer, you are required to make use of the templates and build up your pages. You also have the option of buying premium templates and other stuff ( various modules) from the marketplace.

So, if you are really serious about having your web presence, i would suggest you go for something like a GoDaddy or a HostGator. HostGator has a special offer wherein you can get the hosting for your Wordpress Blogs for as low as 4.95$/month. Also, using the HostGator coupon code wordpress you get the first month of your hosting for only 1cent.

My Website(s) are on HostGator and i must say, i have been enjoying it so far.

Via: CNET

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 at 10:38 am and is filed under Free, web. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

6 Responses to “Microsoft Offering Free Domain Name and Hosting for One Year. But is it worth it?”

Daniel Craig on April 17th, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Hi there, I was looking around for a while searching for rootkits and I happened upon this site and your post regarding ft Offering Free Domain Name and Hosting for One Year. But is it worth it? | Technofriends, I will definitely this to my rootkits bookmarks!
[Free Hosting] Dreamhost Offering 2 Years of Free Hosting for Existing Geocities Customers | Technofriends on April 28th, 2009 at 7:26 pm

[...] Also Read: Microsoft Offering Free Domain Name and Hosting for One Year. But is it worth it? [...]
JuksWebGuy on August 18th, 2009 at 11:59 am

Thanks for the tip.
subash on September 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm

hmm! Ok! thank you for the article but i think now the offer has ended is it so?
Lupe Carrillo on September 24th, 2009 at 12:34 am

Great info. I think the main problem for most people is budgeting. It’s always about what you can afford.
Vesis on January 22nd, 2010 at 2:03 am

I used free domain and webhosting for my domain because i didn’t want some spammy domain like .tk and wanted a tld domain like .com, for those who are interested, you can signup from the link i provided.

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