.mobi Settle the .tel vs. .mobi dispute

[FathomJH]

.tel has nothing to do w/ a web site. If critics would do some research, .tel will be used for communication, such as (their site says), you type hertz.tel into your cell phone and you are transferred to a Hertz live representative (no web site). If you type it into your pc there will be "minimal functionality." Go to nic.tel and see for yourself.

edit - So if you have a number 1-555-555-5555, you can type a .tel to achieve the same result. There are other things the domain can do so I see some +'s, but its not .mobi in any way shape or form.


.mobi - everyone knows already

 

[ofclean]

It's being added to the root though, so I guarantee it will involve websites.

 

[FathomJH]

Like I said, go to their web site. And the other thing, their system does not require cell phone compliancy.

Obviously I'm bias, just look at my sig :D. Will I buy a .tel, prolly but .tel isn't set out to accomplish what .mobi is to do.

 

[scandiman]

I was hoping there was new info on their site but it is still the same old thing. At this point from the info provided, I don't see it is clear that .tel does not involve a web site. The closest it comes is when they say, ".Tel will not overlap or conflict with any existing top-level domain and their value-chains". That statement is wide open to various interpretations. I'm still not sure what .tel is or how it is supposed to work. Hopefully they soon provide some real world examples of what it really is and is not. It does not appear to be a branding competitor to .mobi but I still need more info to be sure. All that aside though, I'm not sure how you can make the statement that everybody knows .mobi already, it is far far away from being a household word.

 

[dhscott]

The .Tel will:

* Deliver an easy to use and easy to remember intuitive letters/words based solution, where numbering is restricted.
* Provide a text-based naming structure that will bridge the segmentation of all Internet communications services and related content.
* Bring to this specific community, through the adoption of the DNS and ICANN regulation, the Internet model of low barriers and non-discrimination of entrants.
* Create a catalyst and an environment for the community to freely innovate and realize new applications and value-added services.
* Produce a combined solution for both fixed-line and wireless networks (Fixed/Mobile Convergence or FMC). A sTLD covering both fixed-line and wireless communities is essential to avoid fragmentation between these two environments.
* Offer flexible deployment, thus providing the capacity to complement any existing or future Internet technologies (IPv4, IPv6, etc.) and networks (GSM, CDMA, 3G, WLAN, WAN, etc.).

The .Tel will not:

* Act as an alternate telephony addressing or dialing system.
* Conflict with IP addressing (IPv4 or IPv6), the PSTN or SS7 systems, or with current or future ENUM implementations.
* Overlap or conflict with any existing top-level domain and their value-chains.
* Allow numeric-only domains to be registered, and therefore will not conflict with any national or international telephone numbering plan.

.tel is not only for mobile devices you must remember, it is for many different devices and programs. Skype is probably the best example I can think of.

There may be a "web-page" if you can call it that at best, but it won't be a web-page with design or monetisation in mind. It'll be a simple list of contact details. Essentially it will be a WHOIS for people and companies (but an opt-in ).

Also:

How will people access the .Tel?
Customers of the .Tel sTLD will store their contact details in the delegated domain space in the form of NAPTR records, which can be accessed by client software tailored to use these. Telnic intends to release such open source client software for Windows, Macintosh and Mobile phones, whilst a web browser proxy service will be available for registrants who wish to use this, making minimal .Tel functionality available to anyone with a web browser.

This to me strongly suggests websites are not on the cards. And why would they be anyway?

 

[Razeeman]

I think of .tel as a giant rolodex. If you need to contact John Smith you go to his page to see all the availabe avenues of communication that John Smith has made available. If he has a skype number and you have the skype program on your puter the program will open and dial John Smith. Kind of like clicking on a email link and having your email client opening with the recipients addy filled in already.

Since it is first come first regged, there will be many variations of johnsmith.tel, for example jsmith.tel, jsInBoston.tel, johnsmith123.tel, etc. So in order to find the John Smith you want, I think there will be a drill down search engine used. something like John Smith/USA/Boston/Web Developer and/or Web Developer/Boston/John Smith

My only question is how will .tel protect its clients from spammers.

 

[thebiffenator]

I think .tel is a great idea for contacts, but IMO it should only be used for corportations and trademark holders and should not be available to the public to reg..but that's just my oppinon... And I think people that are not aware of the .tel's purpose, will reg names and think there are competing with .mobi

 

[Razeeman]

imho, I think they should (need to) get everyone on board. If the price is inexpensive enough and they have a simple form to fill out listing all your contact info, occupation, and location (opt-in as dhscott said), then even a not so computer savvy grandmother can list herself in the directory.

 

[movingconcierge]

I think I get it.

If I understand it right, it is like a giant whitepages and yellowpages tld. When you reach a .tel site, it will list contact info for that entity / party and may have click through communications.

That would be an interesting idea, but I definately see a dogfight for common names also abuse.

 

[satsdifference.com]

Mobile

like .com vs .net is.. but mobile?


Kind Regards,

Yelo

 

[gou]

like .com vs .net is.. but mobile?

No, .tel and .mobi don't even compete against eachother.

 

[GeoOwners]

imho, I think they should (need to) get everyone on board. If the price is inexpensive enough and they have a simple form to fill out listing all your contact info, occupation, and location (opt-in as dhscott said), then even a not so computer savvy grandmother can list herself in the directory.

lol...so some telemarketers can talk her into signing over her bank account....tel will fail due to security concerns.


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[movingconcierge]

I'm not sure I understand that argument-- security. Could you please elaborate?

lol...so some telemarketers can talk her into signing over her bank account....tel will fail due to security concerns.


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[dag]

Don't know if this was mentioned elsewhere, but dotMobi has just written a blog entry to try to clarify the difference:

http://dotmobi.typepad.com/dotmobi/2007/03/tel_and_mobi_le.html

 

[DomainBuyerBroker]

Spammers and scammers are licking their chops waiting for .tel.

Why would I ever post all my contact info to a site/system that will be indexed by google. Especially one that tells everyone where I am right at this moment.

"Hello, I am in Florida for two weeks so don't call me at my home number because no one is there and won't be for two weeks."

Yeah. Please don't break into my house now that you know I'm gone for two weeks.

Maybe .webcam will come out so I can be on camera 24 hours a day.

 

[mjnels]

Spammers and scammers are licking their chops waiting for .tel.

Why would I ever post all my contact info to a site/system that will be indexed by google. Especially one that tells everyone where I am right at this moment.

"Hello, I am in Florida for two weeks so don't call me at my home number because no one is there and won't be for two weeks."

Yeah. Please don't break into my house now that you know I'm gone for two weeks.

Maybe .webcam will come out so I can be on camera 24 hours a day.

very good points..

 

[GeoOwners]

I'm not sure I understand that argument-- security. Could you please elaborate?

the way I understand it .tel will be like the white pages...all the marketers will be able to see you phone numbers, address...etc


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[movingconcierge]

Yeah, I get that. But if one doesn't put up secure or private numbers, only public numbers, I think the security issue is moot.

If .tel goes I'm sure there'll be mistakes by companies and users, but I don't think as a whole .tel == security threat :imho:

I'm sure in the coming months as people contemplate the uses / misuses / nonuse of .tel, we will come to find out more about what's possible. I subscribed to their newsletter.

the way I understand it .tel will be like the white pages...all the marketers will be able to see you phone numbers, address...etc


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