Look for shorter .tel domain names soon.
.Tel registry Telnic has formally asked ICANN to allow it to offer one and two character .tel domain names. The company would not offer two letter domains that correspond to an existing country code, nor would it release one and two digit domain names.
Telnic wants to initially ask interested parties to respond to a request for proposal in order to obtain one of the domains. While other top level domain registries have used a similar process, it’s not clear what Telnic will be looking for given that .tel domain names can’t be “developed”, which was a key criteria in other releases. Perhaps they’ll want someone who plans to make a creative use of .tel. They’ll also look for big brands that will help get the word out about .tel. For example, they might wish to award HP the domain name HP.tel, while they’d prefer not to give me aa.tel (my initials) because they won’t get much marketing return for it.
After the RFP process, domains will be available at a premium price. Any domains not allocated during the premium phase will be available at regular prices.
Acro says
Telos means “the end” In Greek. A coincidence?
Jokes aside, .tel is a sad reminder of grand plans that fall through. That’s what happens when a new TLD decides to change the paradigm and fails to admit it.
jp says
Yea, I say for what? I di actually own my last name.tel and had intended to make a family phone tree that everyone could log into and update ther contact info over time, but in screwing around with it it seems I can’t give them all logins to ther branch of the tree. So .tel hasn’t really worked out so far fr my purposes.
Anthony Mitchell says
Perhaps offers to develop Web 0.0 tools (and release them free of charge to .tel registrants) could be one of the criteria used to select parties to receive these domains. Hint, hint.
R.M. says
I’m sure someone will want one.
But, it will be wasted expediture.
a comment I heard over the weekend jokingly fits this situation.
“A chrome-plated/wood-trimmed Yugo* is still a Yugo.”
* For the young domainers. An inexpressive subcompact car ($ 4-5,000.) marketed in the U.S. 20 yrs ago. Poor quality. Undependable.
mike smith says
She stayed in the bathroom way too long getting ready, and when she finally emerged the mood had shifted and the party people (business and consumers) had moved on.
Simply missed “it”
hotlogic.tel says
The take up of .tel may not have been as some expected, but the fact remains – it is a clever use of the net. If it is offered for long enough, it will become more popular. I think people are missing an opportunity in a financial down turn, to increase their marketing power. Nevermind, not everyone fancies a smart idea.
Caitlin - BrandBucket says
I think they are getting this idea from the .co domains. Overstock.com just bought o.co