The .TEL Discussion Thread

[brendan52190]

Hi

For this, let's assume that .tel will not be a total flop.

What type of keywords will be most valuable for this extension? Will it be geographical keywords, like newyork.tel, losangeles.tel, etc, or what else?

 

[Shahid7]

superbook seems interesting, is there something for blackberry bold ?

 

[Tribulatio]

Maybe I have just missed it - I do not check this thread regularly - but apparently nobody has mentioned a potentially quite exciting development:

MONETELIZE
Monetize Your dot tel domain > Home

Visit their website, and see by yourself: could be a major step for people wanting to monetize their .tel.

It is interesting to see a variety of applications for .tel emerging at a fast pace: looks as it is only the beginning, I am quite curious to see what more will come in the future!

 

[cobo]

Wow, thanks Trib! I missed that too!
Went to the site and got on their list for info.
A nice set of applications are being put into place.
This is good news for all involved with .tel.
Keep an eye on this group!

 

[steveteva]

That why you guys we all shall wait for the BIG tel market, it's coming but slowly. I fully believe on .tel

It will become ranked 2 or 3 after .com in term of gTLD interest.

Dot Com will always be king, but many gTLDs like .ws, .biz, .info, .pro fail to attrack end users.

So I only see .com, .net, .us, .org .tel .tv as really valuable.

 

[jacpar]

That why you guys we all shall wait for the BIG tel market, it's coming but slowly. I fully believe on .tel

It will become ranked 2 or 3 after .com in term of gTLD interest.

Dot Com will always be king, but many gTLDs like .ws, .biz, .info, .pro fail to attrack end users.

So I only see .com, .net, .us, .org .tel .tv as really valuable.

Hi,
You did not mentionned .mobi
Why ?

 

[steveteva]

Hi,
You did not mentionned .mobi
Why ?

Ok, sorry not to mention .mobi so .mobi is in the winner camp but need some road map like .tel if they had like WAP requirements or a easy development tool then it will be more adopted by web programers and we'll see many website using .mobi and it will be known as what is a .mobi really for.

 

[kukgle]

The iPhone .tel navigation app is out!
It's called Superbook and it's available for free on the app store.
If you have an iPhone/iPod Touch you can now really see the speed of navigating .tel domains. Navigation died when Google overtook Yahoo. It is now back with a vengeance!


The full source code has also been posted to the telnic dev site.

As usual if you download it, *please* post a review. Gracias!

Look nice, do you have any plan for ANDROID?

 

[hasseily]

Look nice, do you have any plan for ANDROID?

Yes. Big simple plans: make the dialer and address book .tel aware.
In effect, "dial a .tel". Let's put the 20th century phone numbers to rest, and use names in the 21st century.

 

[qO_Op]

"dial a .tel"

is why I purchased my .tel names. Glad to hear this. Thanks.

 

[kruwreka]

Re: Superbook

-Anyway to disable the GPS request permanently? Even if I go to settings and turn 'Locate on startup' to the OFF position the program still asks me if I want to use my location on startup. Let's put it this way. If I call in sick to work I don't want the boss to find me on the golf course

-I guess enabling it permanently is the flip side of the coin. All I'm saying is that having to click the 'Ok' or 'Don't use' button each time I fire the program up is redundant and annoying to say the least. Maybe a button on the top or bottom to manually update location would be a better solution.

-Can't bookmark contacts? Either the solution is staring me in the face and I'm not seeing it (wouldn't be the first time) or a this is a huge oversight.


Re: My.tel

-Same thing as above with the GPS. How to turn it off or on permanently?

-I'll be honest. Personally I find the program to be a little counterintuitive. Maybe an option for a help/tutorial mode. Like a half-screen transparent layer with examples and suggestions.

Other than that I'm liking the way this is starting to shape up.

Cheers

--Kru

 

[hasseily]

Re: Superbook

-Anyway to disable the GPS request permanently? Even if I go to settings and turn 'Locate on startup' to the OFF position the program still asks me if I want to use my location on startup. Let's put it this way. If I call in sick to work I don't want the boss to find me on the golf course

Superbook doesn't post anything at all to your .tel. In fact you don't need a .tel to use Superbook. It uses your GPS location simply to show you your own location on the map.

The setting is for disabling the (potentially expensive) lookup on startup to locate all your friends.

-I guess enabling it permanently is the flip side of the coin. All I'm saying is that having to click the 'Ok' or 'Don't use' button each time I fire the program up is redundant and annoying to say the least. Maybe a button on the top or bottom to manually update location would be a better solution.

Yes I'm going to put in a "Locate friends" button somewhere. I just wanted version 1 out asap.

-Can't bookmark contacts? Either the solution is staring me in the face and I'm not seeing it (wouldn't be the first time) or a this is a huge oversight.

That's explained in the help layer that shows up if you don't have any contacts with a .tel. Simply go in your regular dialer/contacts app and add a .tel URL to any contact you want. you don't even need to put in the prefix "http://".

Re: My.tel

-Same thing as above with the GPS. How to turn it off or on permanently?

Why would you? It doesn't do much. I could put in a setting for you to turn it off, but basically all that does is it removes the automatic positioning of the map on your current location. Remember, NOTHING is updated on your .tel unless you explicitly set it.

-I'll be honest. Personally I find the program to be a little counterintuitive. Maybe an option for a help/tutorial mode. Like a half-screen transparent layer with examples and suggestions.

Other than that I'm liking the way this is starting to shape up.

Cheers

--Kru

Thanks for the feedback, very useful. Let know what else you'd like to see as you use it.

 

[Shahid7]

Thanks Henry, those were some very good points discussed and might have cleared lots of doubts people had, i would be happy if you can try to even add the moving option to the keywords like its done in the contact info to toggle it up or down that way we know where the information we have information stands.

Thanks

Superbook doesn't post anything at all to your .tel. In fact you don't need a .tel to use Superbook. It uses your GPS location simply to show you your own location on the map.

The setting is for disabling the (potentially expensive) lookup on startup to locate all your friends.



Yes I'm going to put in a "Locate friends" button somewhere. I just wanted version 1 out asap.



That's explained in the help layer that shows up if you don't have any contacts with a .tel. Simply go in your regular dialer/contacts app and add a .tel URL to any contact you want. you don't even need to put in the prefix "http://".



Why would you? It doesn't do much. I could put in a setting for you to turn it off, but basically all that does is it removes the automatic positioning of the map on your current location. Remember, NOTHING is updated on your .tel unless you explicitly set it.



Thanks for the feedback, very useful. Let know what else you'd like to see as you use it.

 

[DubDubDubDot]

I see couple of names in the list that was reported as sell-didnt-came-through (lesbian & hire).

Makes one wonder how many .com's on NameBio and DNsaleprice are actually non sales.

 

[Shahid7]

another point i would like to add is that .tel now allows to change the folder or redirection name, but when you change it and it appears you click on it says error due to the original folder name not changing so do watch that out before its 100% fixed.

 

[kruwreka]

First off let me acknowledge your work and that I understand that the apps are in their initial stages.

Re: Updating Location

Superbook doesn't post anything at all to your .tel. In fact you don't need a .tel to use Superbook. It uses your GPS location simply to show you your own location on the map.

and

Why would you? It doesn't do much. I could put in a setting for you to turn it off, but basically all that does is it removes the automatic positioning of the map on your current location. Remember, NOTHING is updated on your .tel unless you explicitly set it.

OK my golfing example may have been off target and messed up the point I was trying to make.

What I wanted to point out was that if I open either one of the applications, Superbook or My.tel, ten times in ten minutes then ten times I will be asked if I want to update my location before I can even use the application. There is no reason for this. That is why there needs to be an option to disable that part of the program.


Re: Contacts/bookmarking

That's explained in the help layer that shows up if you don't have any contacts with a .tel. Simply go in your regular dialer/contacts app and add a .tel URL to any contact you want. you don't even need to put in the prefix "http://".

OK this I see to be a major problem. Let me use an example:

There is a girl on a train and there are two guys trying to hook up with her. When she gets off the train one guy manages to scribble Bob.tel on the window. She whips out her iPhone and she has three options:

1) She can open up Superbook and type in Bob and it will show his information but she has no way of bookmarking it.

2) She can open her address book and create a new entry called '42nd Random dude named Bob on train' and enter in Bob.tel as part of his information before it shows up in the Superbook as a permanent contact.

3) She can open up Safari type Bob.tel into the browser. Get the same information. Bookmark it so she can check it out later, thereby eliminating the need for Superbook.

If you're looking for this application to have an impact in social situations there needs to be a way to quickly bookmark the info you're given and not fumble through and cram your address book full of random entries.

Again I want to thank you for your work. While I own less than a handful of .tels I really like the concept behind it and I want it rise to it's fullest potential.

--Kru

 

[cobo]

Let's put the 20th century phone numbers to rest, and use names in the 21st century.

This is the .TEL Power Marketing "phrase of the year"!
This encapsulates the concept and the vision with a bit of an edge!
It says "change is in the air", join us, be a part of the revolution, be the 'paradigm shift"!
No conformity here! Be different!
Great marketing thrust for the youth who are leading the mobile revolution.
The power is in the simplicity. Play on that.
Viral this phrase!

On another note, I saw where TWEET.me is over $10,000.+ in an auction. Good news for my TWEET.tel.
I believe that we have seen the bottom in domain pricing.
Prices across all tlds, etc. should be on the bullish side from here on.
As the apps already described in this thread and the apps to come in the future enhance the usability, the value of the .TEL domain names will increase.

Just so you know, I put up a list of 147 names for potential sale and comments earlier here.
It was a test to see which way the wind was blowing.
Within days, I had received several offers, all through PM and none from regular participants of this thread.
Some were for singular names or small groupings.
Two offers for the entire posted list though were interesting!
One was for high 5 figures and the other was a low 6 figure offer.
Tempting as they were, I turned them down.
People with capital are watching from the sidelines.
Don't sell too low folks! The market is just getting established and will be coming this way!

 

[DN_Hunter]

The problem with trying to "use names" instead of numbers is that very quickly you will run out of letter combinations that are memorable (imho)

Even trying to break things down by State or city will run out of memorable "names" -- so I don't see any way to get rid of telephone numbers...

I still like this extension, and have been acquiring .tel's when I see something I like that's still available...

 

[WordWalker]

The problem with trying to "use names" instead of numbers is that very quickly you will run out of letter combinations that are memorable (imho)

Letter/number combinations can be used to generate unlimited .tel domains that will be far more memorable than most of the ten digit phone numbers now in use.

IMHO, L/N combinations that suggest a concept, theme, image, etc. are more word than number for purposes of this discussion and true to the spirit of using names.:talk:

---------- Post added at 09:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 AM ----------

Yes. Big simple plans: make the dialer and address book .tel aware.

This is huge!*



*In .com terms, the equivalent of a TLD category killer. (The category, of course, being the phone.):imho:

 

[onspec]

Isn't Amanda Beard in Bob Parsons Pool?

I hear tell that Amanda Beard has reportedly jumped the GoDaddy ship and dove (10, 9.8, 10) into the .tel waters.

Telnic reports .tel Community | .tel Stories that the lovely Amanda (and some of her lesser known fellow Olympians) are now happy .tel campers. amandabeard.tel.

See what can happen when you put hosting plan sales ahead of the needs of the GD Girls.

Trebles all round'!

Cheers,

 

[jacpar]

Letter/number combinations can be used to generate unlimited .tel domains that will be far more memorable than most of the ten digit phone numbers now in use.

Do you mean something like SMITH2.tel, SMITH3.tel, etc, ?

 

[hasseily]

What I wanted to point out was that if I open either one of the applications, Superbook or My.tel, ten times in ten minutes then ten times I will be asked if I want to update my location before I can even use the application. There is no reason for this. That is why there needs to be an option to disable that part of the program.

That's a problem with your iPhone. It's an OS thing that I have no control over: it does it 2 times and then it should auto-accept and you'll never see the popup again.
But I'll see to making this a user-editable setting anyway.

Re: Contacts/bookmarking


OK this I see to be a major problem. Let me use an example:

There is a girl on a train and there are two guys trying to hook up with her. When she gets off the train one guy manages to scribble Bob.tel on the window. She whips out her iPhone and she has three options:

1) She can open up Superbook and type in Bob and it will show his information but she has no way of bookmarking it.

2) She can open her address book and create a new entry called '42nd Random dude named Bob on train' and enter in Bob.tel as part of his information before it shows up in the Superbook as a permanent contact.

3) She can open up Safari type Bob.tel into the browser. Get the same information. Bookmark it so she can check it out later, thereby eliminating the need for Superbook.

If you're looking for this application to have an impact in social situations there needs to be a way to quickly bookmark the info you're given and not fumble through and cram your address book full of random entries.

Again I want to thank you for your work. While I own less than a handful of .tels I really like the concept behind it and I want it rise to it's fullest potential.

--Kru

Very good points. I'll also work on a single button press "add to address book".

So much to do, so little time...

 

[WordWalker]

Do you mean something like SMITH2.tel, SMITH3.tel, etc, ?

The first and/or middle initials plus all or part of last name with a few numbers cleverly mixed in can go a long way. Getting away from a legal name offers even more flexibility.

With a little thought it's still possible to come up with creative user names for AOL, MySpace, Yahoo, Google, etc. that are more memorable than most ten digit phone numbers. For some end users, I'm sure that Smith2.tel, Smith3.tel, etc. would be fine. I might like something more like 2BSmith.tel or SmithN8r.tel

I've never looked, but has anybody created a more sophisticated end user "name spinner" that has fields for specific personal info like name, initals, geographic location, occupation, interests, no. of characters, etc. (as much or as little as you want to enter) and then spits out a list of clever L/N identifiers to choose from?

 

[WordWalker]

Henri,

Superbook is terrific! It's a real eye opener when demonstrating the potential of .tel to the uninitiated. Two suggestions I'd like to make:

My thinking is the less clicks or steps to an operation the better, so when JaneDoe.tel is listed on the Superbook main page as one of my iPhone contacts with a .tel, I'd like to be able to just touch the entry and place the call instead of having to first access the next screen and from there to choose between CALL or SMS. Perhaps those buttons can be incorporated into the initial main page listing or if that's too crowded, maybe there could be one button on the main entry whose function could be chosen as a preference.

I know I'm pushing my luck now, but for the few people I contact multiple times during the course of a day, is it possible for the Superbook to spawn a .tel icon with the label JaneDoe.tel or whoever.tel that could be displayed right along with my other apps? If so, I'm saving yet another step by not having to first launch Superbook as a separate function.

Whether or not you add this functionality, the thing that's so great about your organization is that you encourage user input and you actually listen. Thank you.

 

[saucey]

Rep for Henri... Henri For President....

Everybody REP Henri.

Not that it really makes a difference... but it would be neat to see how many Rep points he could accumulate!

And let's face it.... he does deserve 'em. :imho:

 

[dottelme]

Do you mean something like SMITH2.tel, SMITH3.tel, etc, ?

Subdomains also add more possibilities. ex: john.smith.tel, bob.smallco.tel, joe.boyband.tel, blade.myclan.tel, member.community.tel

Subdomains are free to give out. Only problem right now is allowing subdomain "owners" to update their own info.