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'.tel' is a top-level domain approved by ICANN as a sponsored TLD. It would be restricted to "internet communication" services, and provide a supplement to the traditional numeric namespace for telecommunication services (i.e. telephone numbers). It is sponsored by Telname Limited. In May 2006, it was approved to be added to the global 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. 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.

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External links

External links

★ Telnic web site