The convergence of phone numbers and domain names has begun a long time ago, it's called
Enum, not .tel.
VOIP works with regular phone numbers too, including the existing ones.
If you think .tel is needed as a bridge between the regular telephone system and IP, you must have been living under a rock. If you have not been following advances in technology, VOIP has been making leaps and gained enormous market shares. All without .tel.
Don't take my word for it, ask VOIP specialists if they use .tel or even know about it. I'm sure you would love to learn about modern telephony anyway.
Here are some information on differences between ENUM and .tel
The .tel is the first TLD to harness NAPTR, TXT and LOC records within the DNS and thereby power a compelling solution for contact management that enables both individuals and businesses to store data directly within the DNS.
NAPTR records are a recent and more flexible DNS resource than the conventional Address records used thus far.
The stability and robustness of NAPTR records have been proven in a protocol called ENUM, a mechanism for translating telephone numbers into domain names. However,
unlike ENUM, the .tel is not encumbered by the regulatory environment found in the conventional telephony world. Additionally, unlike ENUM, .tel is not linked to a single phone number and is therefore portable.
(This is at the sametime a con, but atleat I´m willing to bet on some domain names that the pros of this will outweight the con. If it does I will not have lost my money, if not its not the end of the world)
...
These NAPTR records can also point to other NAPTR records, allowing for navigation through a tree of contact information based on geography, department or any other segmentation. They allow for unlimited updating of dynamically changing content and offer immediate global access to all newly updated information. They can be encrypted to protect confidential data and all data returned within the NAPTR records is clickable, enabling a click-to-communicate feature, which makes communication using the .tel as easy as possible for the users.
In addition to storing NAPTR records, the .tel uses Text records or TXT records stored directly within the DNS. These TXT records allow for the publication of text based information such as names, titles, mailing addresses, and keywords that will help users search for and find the right person or business they wish to contact. These keywords may be easily indexed and searched, enabling the creation of a DNS-based global white and yellowpages directory service. Lastly, the .tel uses Location records or LOC records to publish geo-location information. This allows businesses and individuals to indicate their precise location. The benefits of publishing live LOC records will increase as more advanced location-based services emerge over the coming year
I'm saying it loud and clear:
phone numbers are not going away. They will continue to exist along domain names and of course the two are going to be increasingly interwoven.
The idea that .tel is going to replace phone numbers is just a wild dream, sorry. That is, until every phone booth on the planet is equipped with alphanumeric keyboards...
![Wink ;) ;)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Let's not overlook the fact that digits represent the most universal alphabet in use worldwide.
Yes there are problems with old phones, however atleast in sweden you will be pressed hard to find a phoneboth.
Does websites use numbers because its the most global common characters?
No.
Infact, numbers was what websites stepped away from using!
So if this would have been in the 80´s you would not have believed in domain names?
Do you remember the old phoneboths with a circular dialing on them?
Those where upgraded...
So are you telling me that the phoneboth manufacturers would not love to upgrade and sell a new kind of phoneboth? And that the last phoneboth will be what stops this technology :O