Dec 4, 2008 : Hosts Promote .tel Launch

📅 December 4, 2008 - Given yesterday's launch of the .tel top-level domain name, a number of service providers have already gotten the ball rolling with their own availability of the new TLD during the sunrise period, ending February 2009.


"The .tel domain is similar to an interactive business card on the web, and has been called the Google of online address books," says Iron Mountain Digital (ironmountain.com/ipm) in its latest press release promoting its .tel offering.

The storage services provider announced on Wednesday that it was accepting applications for .tel domain names for trademark owners until the end of the sunrise period on February 2 and the selection method would be made on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Domain registrar and web hosting provider Netfirms (netfirms.com 👉 Total Reviews: 48
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Netfirms says it is offering .tel registration for $379. According to the company's most recent announcement, the fee includes .tel sunrise application fee, verification by Deloitte and .tel registration and hosting for three years.

Some of the more well-known players in the domain market have also incorporated .tel into its portfolio of TLD offerings. Tucows has begun accepting applications for .tel as well as Network Solutions.

Telnic (telnic.org), the registry operator of .tel, describes the new TLD on its website as "a service that allows individuals and businesses alike to store and manage all their contact information and keywords directly in the DNS without the need to build, host or manage a website."

In other words, by registering for a .tel domain name, businesses and individuals will be able to join what Telnic considers the first global, real-time, mobile-optimized online directory. Telnic provides a list of examples of how .tel can be used on its website as well as a live simulation of using a .tel account in real-time.

Despite the unique application of  .tel and what it's striving to do, it remains to be seen whether the TLD will receive the popularity and wide-spread use Telnic anticipates. And of course, one the biggest concerns about a globally-accessible online directory is privacy of information. However, Telnic assures that each registrant will be able to set different levels of access and have complete control over who can view what contact information.

Currently, over 120 registrars worldwide spanning 29 countries have already signed up to work with Telnic and new registrars are becoming active on a daily basis, says the registry operator.