More than 100 Internet domain name registrars have begun processing early applications for a new type of  advertising-free top level domain (TLD), called .tel, that acts as a global contact information system operated within the domain name system (DNS), ahead of a December 3 launch date. London-based Telnic Limited was named the new .tel domain registry operator and sponsoring organization in 2006 by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the international non-profit organization that acts as the Internet's steward. A Roll Out In Three Phases For New Top Level Domain No Web sites in their traditional sense will be attached to the new .tel domains, which will instead act as a type of digital Rolodex providing contact information for businesses and individuals that can include phone numbers, e-mail addresses, Web site links and descriptive keywords, according to Telnic and ICANN documents. The information will be available to both computers and mobile devices such as smartphones, which will be able to automatically detect any changes by using software to take advantage of the new DNS-distributed contact information. The .tel domain names will be rolled out in three phases in an attempt to help businesses and consumers acquire those domain names legitimately associated with them. The initial period will be limited to businesses and individuals holding legal trademarks for the names they want to associate with the new .tel domain. Two months later, on February 3, 2009, the .tel domains will become available to everyone willing to pay premium prices and who also agrees to a three year registration period. Some registrars have advertised prices as high as $379 for a .tel domain during this second period. The final phase of the roll out begins on March 24, 2009, when .tel domains will become available to everyone at annual rates expected to be between $15 and $25, according to Telnic communications director Justin Hayward. New Domains May Prove Less Attractive To Cyber Squatters Hayward said that the .tel domains would be less attractive to those who buy domains in an effort to trick  consumers into clicking on advertising links, so-called cyber-squatters. Hayward said the .tel domain "does not allow for pay-per-click advertising, as it is the first top level domain that customers cannot host a website on," he said in a recent Register report. By publishing and managing contact information using DNS, .tel domains hope to be the framework for implementing a new form of contacts directory, including the ability for businesses and individuals to change their own information and have it updated automatically to .tel-aware computers and mobile devices. Mesh Digital, parent company of U.K. domain registrar Domainmonster.com, recently began accepting orders for .tel domain names. "We're gearing up for what we hope will be our most successful domain name launch yet," said Mesh Digital managing director Matt Mansell. "During the recent .asia and .me launches we achieved a success rate of more than 9 out of 10 orders during the opening minutes of these new TLDs. That proven track record is even more critical for the .tel launch, where they are operating on a first-come-first-served basis during all 3 launch stages," Mansell added. New Contact Information Top Level Domain .TEL Begins Taking Applications Contact information will be displayed in a standardized format according to Hayward, who stressed a "communications, not content" message for how the new domain will be used. Telnic chief executive Khashayar Mahdavi welcomed Domainmonster.com as a new .tel registrar. "We're delighted to have Domainmonster.com on board right at the beginning, with the launch of the sunrise period on December 3rd, 2008," Mahdavi said. "The potential impact of .tel on Internet-based communication and directory services, coupled with Domainmonster.com's proven track record at new TLD launches, is a perfect combination to make this a successful partnership," he added. Software applications developed by Telnic were expected to help integrate the contact information from .tel domains into various contact management systems in use on computers and mobile devices, such as Microsoft Outlook. As ICANN has approved more TLDs over the past few years, including so-called generic top level domains first announced in June, businesses have expressed increasing concern over the amount of money required to purchase domain names for all variations of their firm's name, concerns likely to rise with the addition of the new .tel domains. Related Links :
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9:49 pm on Nov. 6, 2008 (utc 0)