We are at the beginning of the .TEL domain purchases – what does this mean to you?

.TEL is the new domain name extension – a domain name that is different than a standard website domain.

Rather than host web sites, the new .TEL domain will be a site for contact information. It’s designed to work not only over the web, but also via mobile phones such as the Blackberry and iPhone.  It becomes a repository of any and all your contact information and includes some filtering to allow some contacts to be “priviledged” to see more than others.

Here’s a BBC article with more information

What does this mean for Small Business?

A .TEL domain will ensure your business contact information is available through various means and competitively placed with other .TEL domain holders. .TEL keywords will make your business easier to find in search engines.

Any changes to phone number, address, or other information, can now be changed at a single point and automatically distributed to smartphones, PDA’s, or other devices, which will automatically update the contact information.

Top 10 reasons to buy .TEL (PDF)

Check out the Telnic website for full .TEL information, including examples, and a video.

Where can I buy a .TEL domain?

Check with your usual domain registrar to see if they offer .TEL domain names.

Unless you wish to pay a premium, general availability starts March 24, 2009 at prices similar to buying a regular domain name. If they don’t try this list.

Will you buy a .TEL?

As a Small Business owner you need to invest this small capital to stay current with the communications options available to your customers. If your business has a domain name it is in your best interests to pick up the .TEL domain as well.

Will you buy a .TEL? Add your comments