The much awaited new .tel Internet domain names are now available from 3.00 p.m. GMT, according to Telnic, a UK-based registry operator and sponsoring organization for the new .tel top level domain (TLD).

 

The company is welcoming all small businesses and individuals with little resources to reap the benefits of the new technology that facilitates cost-cutting as well as enhanced customer interaction, during the period of economic downturn.   

 

Available for anyone to purchase for a fixed 3-year term, the new .tel started with a network of more than 100 ICANN (Internet Corporation for assigned names and numbers) - accredited registrars and their resellers, said Telnic. 

 

Nicknamed as 'Webless Web', .tel domains offer Internet publishing to everyone, regardless of budget or technical expertise, thereby facilitating small businesses and owner-managers to get their own domain name without the need to build, maintain and host a full Web site. The domain names were provided on the on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

According to Telnic, the Webless Web technology provides its domain name users with a secure as well as an easy-to-manage address for life-time period. It enables both individuals and businesses to store all of their contact information and location-based information along with unlimited number of key words directly in the domain name system, without the need for a Web site.

 

The Webless Web enables people to discover businesses via keywords that are provided online - from any device connected to the Internet. In-turn, it allows customer to contact the business with simple 'click to communicate' functionality by using any and/or all existing communications types. The technology incorporates all features that are required for a small business to get up and running, said the company.

 

"Small businesses have been caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to getting benefit from the Internet," said Khashayar Mahdavi, CEO of Telnic. "Until now, they either needed the skills in-house to develop and maintain a website, or pay for others to do the same, all without knowing whether or not it was of interest to their customers. Now, with .tel, small businesses get a presence online, akin to a listing in a directory service, but under their own brand and their complete control, at a fraction of the cost of a listing in a traditional directory service."

 

Additionally, small businesses can leverage the .tel domain to manage operational costs by making use of low-cost communications channels such as Instant Messaging (IM) tools, micro-blogging platforms or even Voice over IP (VoIP) services. This not only helps in cutting costs, at the same time improves customer service of the business, says company.

 

"Plumbers, dry cleaners, chauffeurs, window cleaners, actors, fitness instructors and interpreters, to name but a few, can all take advantage of consolidating their costs in directory listings, saving money on customer communications and benefiting from free SEO built in the .tel domain," added Mahdavi. "At a time of economic pressure, there's a huge opportunity to improve customer communication and access whilst consolidating costs."