Don't know if you saw it - but it's official:

Google Web Hosting has arrived.

Here's a brief synopsis:

Several online sources including Google Engineer, Matt Cutts' Blog have confirmed that the new web hosting product is currently live and available at: http://pages.google.com. The product is named Google Page Creator, and according to Google as described on the product page:

''Create your own web pages, quickly and easily.

Google Page Creator is a free online tool that makes it easy for anyone to create and publish useful, attractive web pages in just minutes.''

What, if anything, do you think this will mean for the web hosting industry?

I heard that in another forum as well. It may affect the hosting industry deeply

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Its good to see Google do something like this. I honestly believe this will help the hosting industry get new customers, as people holding the basic template Google web sites will want to expand to use SQL etc, which obviously they will not be offering. Also I cant see any businesses using Google as their main site. To me its just another Geocities, Lycos etc.

I am currently with JJTEK Hosting and I know that they have some of the lowest prices out there! If Google where to start hosting do you not think that they would take over so much of the business, as they are so well know already! Google is a household name and other companies offering low prices will not be able to compete and may be forgotten! I know that you said it may be like another Geocites but they may get greedy and go bigger. Please shear your views with me.

If it is anything like their "create a web site" - there is nothing to worry about. I saw the code on some of those pages - it was worse tha Frontpage 2000

I doubt the hosting companies in business will have a problem. They will take a large hit from the hosting advertising segment if they do

Yeah to be honest though... does google need the money from hosting companies advertising with them? Instead they can just take all the business ... I'm sure they could offer very competitive prices... they need to be stopped expanding!

Google's moves should never be ignored, although this initiative by itself, isn't a huge threat. A similar page publishing software in Blogger (from Google) has been out for awhile, and hasn't greatly affected traditional hosting companies.

However, this is just a first step in becoming a complete hosting solutions provider, which in my opinion is not a question of if, but when. Both 1&1 and GoDaddy have taken huge chunks of market share with their entrances into the U.S. and global markets (respectively). Godaddy gained about 2.5 million host names last year, making them the world's largest host at a total of close to 6 million now. They stole the top spot from 1&1, who still put up an increase of 1 million host names to end at 5.5 million in 2005 (despite flattening out in the 4th quarter).

When you compare those numbers with estimates of around 75 million to 100 million websites globally with increases of about 15 million annually, it's evident that a big brand can move into the market and take a large piece of the hosting pie. But consider that both Godaddy and 1and1 don't even show up on global brand or U.S. brand rankings. Guess who's number 1?

I'd like to hear more on this if people have addional links

Personally, I believe that it could hurt a hosting company since everyday joe blows may use a google service like that, but a business would most likley need a little more than what google has to offer.

If I only care for putting my profile and photos, I will use this FREE Google hosting. Most of advanced users, this FREE hosting is too limited. Moreover, you only can use their company URL/yourusername. It all depends on what a purpose of your site is.

My two cents =)