I've mentioned Google Apps for Your Domain on several occasions.  The service allows you to run custom-branded versions of Google's most popular applications on your own domain.  Gmail, Google Talk, Calendar, Page Creator, and a custom start page are included in the package.  But as the name implies, you must have your own domain to use the service.  Previously, if you didn't have a domain of your own you had to secure that first.

Not any more.

Last night Google announced that it had partnered with GoDaddy.com and eNom to offer domain registration services.  Private registration for the $10/year domain is also available.  With this new service, those wanting to use Google Apps for Your Domain who are domainless can acquire a place to put the apps at the same time they sign up for the service.  Google does the configuration work for you.  As the Google Blog puts it, you've now got a "one stop shop" for all your Google Apps for Your Domain needs.

On a related note, the Official Google Enterprise Blog also has a post talking about the money one school is saving by rolling out Google Apps for Education on their university servers.  Lakehead University moved 38,000 students, faculty, and staff members to Google Apps for Education in just a week.  Lakehead officials estimate that the move to Google Apps for Education will save them between $2-3 million a year in maintenance costs as well as $6 in infrastructure costs.  That's $8-9 million in savings!  Lakehead issued a press release on the move with more details.

Visit the Google Apps for Your Domain or the Google Apps for Education  page for more information.