ICANN Approves New .Tel Domain

ICANN Approves New .Tel Domain

Techtree News Staff, May 17, 2006 1143 hrs IST

ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) unanimously approved the creation of the new .Tel top level domain (TLD).

ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) unanimously approved the creation of the new .Tel top level domain (TLD), and awarded the contract to UK-based technology company, Telnic Limited.

Khashayar Mahdavi, chief executive officer, Telnic, said, "The .Tel domain offers the first genuinely different use of domains since .com was first created. It will provide seamless integration of existing methods of communication with emerging technologies like Voice over IP (VoIP). This places the .Tel domain at the core of the next phase of Internet development."

Mahdavi further said, "The days of needing to remember several telephone numbers, numerous VoIP or instant message identities, and other points of contact for our social and professional networks are over. By leveraging innovative DNS (Domain Name System) technology, the .Tel domain will allow anyone to publish and control, in real time, how they can be reached."

The .Tel domain will enable people to reach a business from any Internet enabled device simply by typing, for example, "Hertz.tel". The user will then be able to connect directly to a Hertz rep-resentative, or navigate through a list of services that Hertz may offer. Businesses can easily extend their brands into this new space and enhance the way customer inquiries are handled.

Telnic will release free applications to allow .Tel domains to be integrated with the commonly used address books found in computer systems and mobile phones. This innovation will offer a unique experience distinct from any other top level domain.