Content management systems, or CMS, let web developers build flexible, dynamic websites that typically employ many of the hallmarks of the Web 2.0 experience, such as blogging, commenting, chat and RSS feeds.
GoDaddy has taken all of those features – and others – and dovetailed them with their domain registration process. Users can register a domain name and immediately start building a Web 2.0-style site.
The basic SmartSpace features include a blog, a photo album, a chat application, email and RSS feeds. In addition, SmartSpace lets users build something they're calling "SocialSpace" – a website that combines elements from prominent social networking websites like MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn.
The RSS feed function lets users drop in serialized content from sites like YouTube, Google News or any site that syndicates its content.
Another intriguing feature is SocialSpace's chat support. GoDaddy provides users with an admin panel from where they can launch a chat room and invite or ban users. SmartSpace also offers full support for photo albums.
Tech writer Sarah Perez of ReadWriteWeb.com said that GoDaddy's new service outstrips its competitors.
"What GoDaddy has launched today is a viable competitor to the other personalized homepages out there like iGoogle, My Yahoo, Netvibes, etc.," she said. "But GoDaddy's SocialSpace goes beyond what those sites offer in a number of ways. Although widgetized content like photos and RSS feeds can be added to nearly any start page today, GoDaddy actually lets you own a domain name, set up a blog or website and then easily, instantly turn it into a personalized social network that aggregates content from the social web and includes chat functionality for instant interactions with your friends."
SmartSpace's terms of service impose some limitations on adult content, including prohibitions on hosting content that is "vulgar" or "obscene," though GoDaddy offers no definition of those terms. Interested adult webmasters should read all of the terms of service.
A representative for GoDaddy told XBIZ that anyone hosting an adult site through its hosting service would need to include an adult warning page in advance of the main site.
SmartSpace costs $4.99 per month for two months; $4.74 per month for 12 months; $4.49 per month for 24 months; $4.24 per month for 36 months. For more information, visit GoDaddy.com.
