Patent ID: 8244812

Claim:
One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon to perform a method for initiating email hosting services for a domain name, said method comprising: establishing a secure communication channel with an entity requesting email hosting services for one or more email accounts having said domain name; communicating authentication information to said requesting entity via said secure communication channel, wherein said authentication information is a code to be published by said requesting entity in a publicly accessible Domain Name Service (DNS) record associated with said domain name, for making said code publicly accessible; verifying that said requesting entity is authorized to control said domain name by determining whether said publicly accessible code was published in said publicly accessible DNS record associated with said domain name, as the ability to publish said publicly accessible code in said publicly accessible DNS record associated with said domain name demonstrates authorization to control said domain name; providing a destination address to a network location configured to receive email addressed to at least one of said one or more email accounts; receiving account information describing said one or more email accounts; providing email services for said one or more email accounts; and providing an account administration interface for providing said requesting entity a set of administrative controls over said one or more email accounts.