GoDaddy announces Domain Connect protocol, Microsoft joins it as a service provider

Whenever you own a domain and need to configure a service for that domain, it involves updating DNS records. Many general consumers find this process difficult as they are not aware of what an “A Record” is. GoDaddy is now trying to solve this problem with a new protocol called Domain Connect.

Domain Connect is a simple way to make the connecting of domains to services as seamless and easy as possible. Through a standardized protocol, implementation at both the Service Provider level as well as the DNS Provider level is consistent and predictable. Further, using templates to accomplish the configuration, DNS providers can ensure that changes have a lesser chance of causing problems or exposing unregulated DNS record manipulation to the outside world. It has been submitted to the IETF as an open standard.

The protocol involves two parties.  DNS Providers who run DNS for a domain, and Service Providers who provide the services and applications attached to domains. Microsoft has now joined this Domain Connect initiative as a Service Provider. In future, you can expect that associating a GoDaddy domain with an Office 365 account can be done in few clicks.

“Microsoft wants to make things as easy as possible for our customers. That’s why Domain Connect can be so powerful, it can do the work on the back-end and enable an Office 365 customer to more easily and quickly make desired DNS changes,” said Microsoft Corporate Vice President Rajesh Jha.