Last year I thought I’d give Office Live a try because it integrated with the Microsoft Accounting 2007 package that I use. Office Live includes a free domain, but a woefully inadequate…well, everything else. After a quick Google search I came up with this article where I found what to ask Microsoft for before cancelling. If you’ve got an Office Live account, or if you want to create one just for the free domain, you can move your domain to your host of choice whenever you’d like.

Here’s how to move your domain step by step:

Step 1. Contact them using the support form
I don’t have URL for this right now, but it’s easy to find once you’re logged in. Send them something like this:

“Hello,

I’d like to cancel my Office Live account and need the Registry Key so I can transfer the domain registration. I can provide you with any information you need from me.

Thanks,
Brad Kelly”

2. Give them what they want
They’ll ask you the following verification questions. Answer them all correctly in a reply email. Don’t use the form again. 

“In order to proceed further and cancel your account, I would request you to please provide the below mentioned information for account ownership verification.
1. First and Last name associated with your Microsoft Office Live account.
2. Phone number associated with your Microsoft Office Live account.
3. Admin email Id associated with your Microsoft Office Live account.
4. Last four digits of the credit card number associated with your Microsoft Office Live account.
5. Billing address on Microsoft Office Live account associated with your Microsoft Office Live account.”

Step 3. Take control of your domain
You’ll get a long-winded email in response if you’ve provided the correct answers. It’ll include your domain key and instructions for taking control of your domain. Remember to specify your new nameservers BEFORE actually requesting the transfer of the domain to your host.

After you’ve completed all these steps, both your new host and Melbourne IT will send you confirmations. I had to reply to my host’s to let it go through, but Melbourne IT’s message specifically tells you NOT to reply if you want it to go through.

Here’s the email Microsoft sent with the instructions:
“I have verified your ownership by the details you have provided and I have cancelled your account. Please take note of your Domain Registration Key in case you decided to manage your domain name and transfer it to another registrar.
Domain Name: bradkellyenterprises.com
Domain Registry Key: XXXXXXXXXXXX

These are the steps on how to unlock and manage your domain name:
1. Go to http://www.melbourneit.com.au/cc/godirect/
2. Enter your domain name and registry key and click on continue.
3. Click on ‘create a new account’ below the text box where you are prompted for My account password.
Fill up all the information needed: 
    a. Contact Information
    b. Login Information
    c. Other Information:
        · The Country Code is “1″ for United States (for UK it is 44)
        · The email address you enter must not be related to the domain you are attempting to transfer/manage. 
4. After filling up all the information, check the box that says I have read and understood the Sign Up Terms and Conditions. I agree to abide by the terms and conditions, as stated there in.
5. Click Create.  Now your account is created.
6. On the My Account Console page, click Logout on the right side of the page.
7. Now you will be redirected to the Melbourne IT web site.
8. Click Manage Domain Name on the right side of the page.
9. Type your domain and registry key. 
10. Click Enter Management.
11. Click Transfer management to Melbourne IT.
12. Sign in using the username and password for your Melbourne IT account using the username and password, which you created for your Melbourne IT account.
13. Click Continue after you have verified all the information on the page.
14. Click on My Account console.
15. Click on the link “View/Manage domain name” under the Domain Names.
16. Click on your domain name (customer domain name) under the Domain Name section.
17. Click on the Unlock Domain Name.
18. To change name server, click on Change Delegation Details under Name Server Details on the right side of the page. Here, you can change the domain name server settings for your new service provider.
19. To obtain new authorization code in order to transfer your domain, click Retrieve Domain Name (authinfo) Password (on the same page on point 17).”