| .tel |
 |
| Introduced |
2005 |
| TLD type |
Sponsored top-level domain |
| Status |
Approved |
| Registry |
Telnic Limited |
| Sponsor |
Telnic Limited |
| Intended use |
Unified contact directory services as text-based alternative to fragmented communications solutions |
| Actual use |
Not yet available for use |
| Registration restrictions |
Registered names will be policed to weed out abusive registrations or registrants not in proper community |
| Structure |
Direct second-level registrations will be allowed; digits will be restricted to avoid conflict with phone numbers |
| Documents |
ICANN New sTLD RFP Application |
| Dispute policies |
UDRP, Sunrise dispute resolution procedure |
| Website |
Telnic |
.tel is a top-level domain approved by ICANN as a sponsored TLD launching on Wednesday 3rd December 2008 to trademark owners of national effect. Its main purpose is as a single management and publishing point for "internet communication" services, providing a global contacts directory service by housing all types of contact information directly in the DNS. It is sponsored by Telnic Limited. In May 2006, it was approved to be added to the DNS root. The TLD was added to the root servers on March 2, 2007.
Since some of the sorts of services that will use .tel domains can be achieved on mobile telephones, there may be a perceived overlap in the target market between this and the .mobi domain, also approved by ICANN in the same round. However this perception is incorrect. In simple terms, ".tel" is about publishing contact data: phone numbers, SIP addresses and so on directly in the DNS, not on html-based websites. The focus of the .mobi domain is providing web sites and other content designed for the user interface provided on mobile phones and other hand-held devices. An overview of the difference between the two sTLDs can be found on the ICANN web site at http://www.icann.org/correspondence/mahdavi-to-twomey-04may06.pdf .
A second application for the same TLD name, but with a different structure, was made by a company named Pulver. This proposal involved telephone number style numeric identifiers. Alternative viewpoints claimed that this either complemented or conflicted with ENUM. All-numeric identifiers are not available in the form of .tel that has been approved.
On 10th July 2008, EuroDNS was the first registrar to sign an agreement with Telnic to sell the .tel.
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