How move Domain name

[Shnacker]

I have Domain with GoDaddy, and host with Bluehost.
Was thinking of opening another account with Bluehost for another business idea but was thinking of saving a few bucks by just using the Bluehost 1free domain. But was wondering who owns this domain name? If I want to switch in a few months to GoDaddy as registrar is it allowed? How much effort, what's involved in switching the domain registar from the Bluehost to GoDaddy (or another)? Does anyone have experience with this?

[felgall]

Generally domains can be moved from one registrar to another provided that it is not done within the first so many days after you last renewed the domain. To move a domain the fee for at least one additional year must be paid to the new registrar who will then extend the expiry date for that further period beyond the time that has already been paid for (ie. they credit you with the remaining time you had with the prior registrar plus the extra time you pay for at the time of the move).

[Shnacker]

Thanks Felgall.

I also have a domain for free with the Microsoft Live (free is good) and was wondering if there is some fine print that Microsoft and BlueHost use whereby they own the domain name and I wouldn't be able to transfer it to GoDaddy, or other registrar, when I want to move. I mean, is the domain mine to change or is it property of Bluehost or Microsoft? I think you know what I'm worried about. Not the general method of registrar transfer, but the "fine print" with bluehost when I pay for account and get that one domain name included. Appreciate your feedback as always. You are a terrific resource in these forum. Grateful to have your feedback.

(by any chance do you know much about encoding UTF-8 and can give an overview? I'd start new thread.)

[felgall]

With BlueHost you are the one leasing the domain and not BlueHost so you can move whenever you like. I assume Microsoft is the same.