Here we go reinventing the white pages, except now you have to pay to get listed. For a moment I thought a .tel domain would open up lots of creative URLs, like “drugcar.tel” and other strange uses – But you can’t do that, it only works as a data storage, it doesn’t work as a normal domain name.
From the Network Solutions FAQ:
“.Tel domain names are not hosted in the traditional sense. Instead of mapping to an IP address a .tel domain maps to contact information and keywords stored directly in the DNS (domain name server) enabling companies to use the DNS as a data store. This allows for faster access and real-time updates. All .tel domains names must use the standard .tel template provided through your registrar and the Telnic hosting community. While you manage and control all your contact information and can update it in real-time whenever you wish, the creative elements of a .tel Website will be consistent for all domains.”Major bummer!
Hi Andres,____There are plenty of other domains out there that you can use to create some fun terms, but only .tel has a standard way for delivery of information so that other applications can access the information stored in the DNS in a standard way. This is why there's a fixed A record and structure so that everything from WordPress plugins through to voip apps such as voipgate.com and kiax can actually 'dial' a .tel domain.____But thanks for flagging it up :)____Justin__Telnic Limited__
Hi Justin. The uses sound intriguing. Like a simplified but easy to access LDAP directory riding on top of DNS. I'm not jumping on this one, though – I can see where it would be useful. Still, I'd love more open TLDs… I wanted to register something on the Falklands registrar but it didn't pan out. Don't ask – I won't tell.