Hi,
Can someone recommend a good domain hosting company?
What's a "domain hosting company"? Domains aren't "hosted". Web servers, email servers, etc. are "hosted". A domain is just a registered name, that is used as a means for users to find your server(s).
I think you probably mean you already have a domain name. A URL is the address of a web page (OK, technically, a "resource", so it could be a web page, an image, etc.), which includes as part of it the domain name.
Ultimately, a domain name is nothing but an entry in a large database (a "registry" - for example, .com is a registry), which contains very little: the domain name, your name, address, and phone number, and the address of a DNS server that can be used to "resolve" names within your domain.
When you register a domain with a domain registrar (for example, GoDaddy), you are simply paying them to stick that information in the database (.com registry) for you, and remember to bill you again next year.
Your DNS server doesn't have to be provided by your registrar, though most offer DNS as a free service with your registration. For most registrants that service is sufficient, but you can move your DNS services elsewhere if you wish.
Some registrars (Godaddy is a good example) do also offer hosting, email, and other services, but you are under no obligation to obtain those services from them.
which I would like to move to a hosting company here in the US.
Are you currently using a hosting company not in the U.S.? Or do you mean your registrar?
I think you mean you want to host a website on your domain. The only way you can "move" your domain is to move it to a different registrar. And that isn't really "moving" it, because no matter what company you use to register your domain name, it still lives in the same database at the "registry". "Moving" a domain name is just changing who takes care of collecting your money and interfacing with the registry, which contains the details of your domain registration.
I basically need the domain mainly for email. Probably something which works great with Mac/iOS and has some "MS Exchange" functions (push email, calender).
Then you really should be shopping for an email host. And it sounds like you want one that supports Microsoft Exchange. Will you actually be using Microsoft Exchange as your email client?
You don't need a web host unless you actually have a need or desire for a web site. Email and web hosting don't have to be done by the same company. In fact, seldom does the same company do both well, IMO. Nor does your domain registration have to be done through same company that handles either of these.
You might want to look at Rackspace for email. I'm very happy with them myself. They do have a Microsoft Exchange option, but it's rather costly vs. regular POP/IMAP email hosting. I just use standard IMAP, so I can't comment on how good their Exchange hosting is.
OK, so perhaps people will think I've been picky about correct terminology and overly-technical here, since I "got" what you were asking. (Maybe.) The thing is I DID have to guess what you meant. So, let's start by getting the terminology right so we all know what you are talking about.
Did I guess right? Can you clarify further?
