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?

 

[onlinelife]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Ms Domainer!

If you compare the ".tel showcase" with this thread, you'll find all the senior and experienced members are correct in saying that .tel will fail. Its only the less experienced members who are bumming up this extension. We've seen it all before with .mobi

Well, ".Tel showcase" thread is merged here.
So, you judge Tld's based on who register what? Sure you will see risk-takers in every new opening. We (all) know our limits!
BTW I am in profit with recent .Me and .Mobi and yes, even .Asia

Land-rush of .Tel hasn’t over yet; why not give .Tel little more time to decide who fail and who succeed? :imho:

 

[steveteva]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Ms Domainer!



Well, ".Tel showcase" thread is merged here.
So, you judge Tld's based on who register what? Sure you will see risk-takers in every new opening. We (all) know our limits!
BTW I am in profit with recent .Me and .Mobi and yes, even .Asia

Land-rush of .Tel hasn’t over yet; why not give .Tel little more time to decide who fail and who succeed? :imho:

I have hard time to find some post now.

I think there should be a .tel showcase.

 

[saucey]

Anybody know the numbers yet for Landrush reg's in the first 48hrs??

 

[GF]

One reason I have decided to invest in .tel is because you can't build a website on it.

That's right.

First, I agree with Ms Domainer's statement above. I like .TEL because you can't develop it into a website. I think that the right marketing people will be able to take advantage of .TEL to sell spots on the top keywords/geographical areas.

I'm not sold on .TEL's potential success - I'm neither jumping in nor am I a "naysayer."

Now, here's what I think is crazy: I think .TEL may actually help .MOBI take off as an extension. People on this forum already know what I think about .MOBI, and it doesn't need to be revisited. However - bear with me while I explain.

If .TEL is marketed correctly, and people begin to use .TEL as the "yellow pages of the Internet" - it'll help .MOBI like this:

- I'm on my Blackberry and I need to make a restaurant reservation while visiting San Diego, CA.
- I go to SanDiego.TEL and look up Restaurants --> Chinese --> [variety of listings show up]
- If I want to read reviews on each of these restaurants, each of these places can put links to reviews on the web, and if they're smart, they'll have them optimized for the mobile web (hence where .MOBI developed sites emerge)

In order for .TEL to succeed, it's going to depend on the world accepting it as the "Internet Yellow Pages" and for .MOBI to raise from the dead, it's going to need to hook up with businesses to develop their .MOBI sites and implore them to use their .TEL sites and have links to their .MOBI sites on there.

Am I just crazy, or what?

-G

 

[steveteva]

First, I agree with Ms Domainer's statement above. I like .TEL because you can't develop it into a website. I think that the right marketing people will be able to take advantage of .TEL to sell spots on the top keywords/geographical areas.

I'm not sold on .TEL's potential success - I'm neither jumping in nor am I a "naysayer."

Now, here's what I think is crazy: I think .TEL may actually help .MOBI take off as an extension. People on this forum already know what I think about .MOBI, and it doesn't need to be revisited. However - bear with me while I explain.

If .TEL is marketed correctly, and people begin to use .TEL as the "yellow pages of the Internet" - it'll help .MOBI like this:

- I'm on my Blackberry and I need to make a restaurant reservation while visiting San Diego, CA.
- I go to SanDiego.TEL and look up Restaurants --> Chinese --> [variety of listings show up]
- If I want to read reviews on each of these restaurants, each of these places can put links to reviews on the web, and if they're smart, they'll have them optimized for the mobile web (hence where .MOBI developed sites emerge)

In order for .TEL to succeed, it's going to depend on the world accepting it as the "Internet Yellow Pages" and for .MOBI to raise from the dead, it's going to need to hook up with businesses to develop their .MOBI sites and implore them to use their .TEL sites and have links to their .MOBI sites on there.

Am I just crazy, or what?

-G

That is exactly what a .tel is for. You got it. For myself I don't have the .mobi but .pro witch I will use to host business webpages that are linked to the .tel

This is the best usability of a .tel

 

[saucey]

I originally posted this yesterday on the NAYSAYERS thread... But, now I don't know where that is... so I will Re-post it here... (I think Ms Domainer and I are on the same page... But I'm not a boomer...I'm an X'r)

Good Times!!!

Well, I certainly can understand some of the concerns. As with any new extension, there is always concern for it's future performance. Domainers are having a hard time grasping this one because.... ready for it..... here it comes....... There is no website! OMG! How can you have an extension that doesn't allow you to build a website around it? How ever can you expect to monetize!

Well, you can monetize. You can store as much info as you want on .tel...FREE! And, you can charge for anyone who wants to have their info listed.

I don't think people will make money with first or last names.... or with random words.... But words like Hotel.tel, or CarRental.tel I believe have a chance....

I don't know how popular it will be for PC's, but for Palm Pilots, Blackberry's, Cell Phones etc.. It has a very good chance. IMO.

I've heard some people say "hey man, that's what google or yahoo is for.."

How many times have you typed in a search term and hundreds of millions of results show up... Then you start looking, and the first 40,50,60 listings are all directed to the same single site... what a waste of time! Plus the graphics take forever to load up on your hand held device...

Now go to hotel.tel. Simple. No heavy duty graphics that take forever to load up. Navigation is easy and direct. Hotels --> Country --> City --> and then the listings of hotels.. complete with phone #'s, google maps, address, website and whatever other contact info you want.

This will be handy when you don't know what hotels are offered in a particular city that you are visiting or may plan to visit.. It will be handy if you don't want to use, or don't have access to a phonebook, it may even be handier than using google on your PC because you won't have to wade through all the crap to find what you are looking for.

The big thing will be how Telnic promotes, as well as how the Registrars promote... Then, the public will have to make their choice.

I don't know if it will be a winner or a loser...it is too early to .tel.

I do believe though, that you have to think a little more outside the box on this one.... Let your ingrained domaining ideas go...just a little..

Saucey

 

[lexisdomains]

How much are .tels to register?

 

[saucey]

How much are .tels to register?

Right now around $100 bucks a year, varying by registrar....

After Landrush, around $15 - $20 bucks a year, varying by registrar..

 

[lexisdomains]

AT present, domainmonster states that LandRush is live. I'm a little confused as to how much I will be charged. Is it $109.99 or $17.99?

Also, if i opt to preorder, does this lock me into the domain name?

Thanks for the help

 

[Ms Domainer]

How much are .tels to register?

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During Landrush, they range between $295 - $375 (for three years). No doubt, they are expensive. That's why it's important to take care in regging. I popped for four (two I'm not sure I have registered successfully), but they are premium one-words.

On March 24, they will be available at about $20.00 per year. I would say that if you're not looking to find a premium term (maybe you want your full name or nickname), you might want to wait until March 24. If you're dead set on getting your first name, you might want to do a search now (though, I suspect, the popular first names may already be gone).

I do think that some good two-word premiums will be available on March 24, just as they were for dot-me. I actually got two lovely one-word domains three weeks after the dot-me Landrush!

The truth of the matter is, there are still some decent names still available in .me, so they will be available for .tel.

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AT present, domainmonster states that LandRush is live. I'm a little confused as to how much I will be charged. Is it $109.99 or $17.99?

Also, if i opt to preorder, does this lock me into the domain name?

Thanks for the help

*

Pre-ordering is finished; if you reg a name now, you will be charged 295 - 375 upfront, which will give you three years.

On March 24, .tels will be regular price, about $20, depending on registrar.

*

 

[CDM]

While i did invest in a few .tels, and have a favorable outlook for *select* types of names in the extension, I have to admit that from following this thread for the last couple days I am a little surprised (stunned even) by some of the names people are grabbing. As someone pointed out there are a good many that i would totally expect to still be available after landrush for $10-$15.

2nd point: I would be very very careful about buying/selling .tel at this early stage until the whois goes live. I have already seen someone here claim to have a .tel that I show locked in one of my registrar accounts. so, a word to the wise.

The third thing I want to say is a potential criticism that I think needs to be looked at seriously. I want to give it the label 'dilution'. What I mean by 'dilution' is the following: Would the yellow pages be the yellow pages as we know it, if there were also a blue pages, a brown pages, a lavender pages, a turquoise pages, a cornflower blue pages, a cherry blossom pink pages ... etc. etc?

To bring the point home, lets take a random category of business such as New York Pest Control services. Now, ..

Domainer A registers PestControl.tel
Domainer B registers Exterminators.tel
Domainer C has registered Bugs.tel
DomainerD has registered KillRoaches.tel
Domainer E has registered NewYork.tel
Domainer F has registered NYC.tel
Domainer G has registered Harlem.tel
Domainer H has registered Listings.tel
Domainer I has registered Pages.tel
Domainer J has registered NYPages.tel
Domainer K has registered HarlemNewYorkBugKillers.tel
etc. etc.

Each domainer intends to have a folder or folders in their directory dedicated to listing pest control services in New York so that they can market to these companies for listing in their directory, but then what is the real value proposition of any directory?

Put another way, as the business owner, if I receive postcards and phone calls from a dozen .tel owners next month that are all trying to sell me on their directory, what would I do? What value do I see in any one?

Frankly the itchy registrar fingers on this extension has now got me a little spooked. I think the real category killers have a great shot but the further away you get the tougher row you have to hoe, but furthermore, does it also raise the possibility of the entire business model of monetizing .tel as a directory becoming extremely diluted, when anyone and everyone tries to make an ad hoc directory out of any 'generic' .tel.

Lastly, I cringe at the thought and sight of the word 'telsters' and pray to god for the sake of the extension that term does not take root.

 

[Ms Domainer]

While i did invest in a few .tels, and have a favorable outlook for *select* types of names in the extension, I have to admit that from following this thread for the last couple days I am a little surprised (stunned even) by some of the names people are grabbing. As someone pointed out there are a good many that i would totally expect to still be available after landrush for $10-$15.

2nd point: I would be very very careful about buying/selling .tel at this early stage until the whois goes live. I have already seen someone here claim to have a .tel that I show locked in one of my registrar accounts. so, a word to the wise.

The third thing I want to say is a potential criticism that I think needs to be looked at seriously. I want to give it the label 'dilution'. What I mean by 'dilution' is the following: Would the yellow pages be the yellow pages as we know it, if there were also a blue pages, a brown pages, a lavender pages, a turquoise pages, a cornflower blue pages, a cherry blossom pink pages ... etc. etc?

To bring the point home, lets take a random category of business such as New York Pest Control services. Now, ..

Domainer A registers PestControl.tel
Domainer B registers Exterminators.tel
Domainer C has registered Bugs.tel
DomainerD has registered KillRoaches.tel
Domainer E has registered NewYork.tel
Domainer F has registered NYC.tel
Domainer G has registered Harlem.tel
Domainer H has registered Listings.tel
Domainer I has registered Pages.tel
Domainer J has registered NYPages.tel
Domainer K has registered HarlemNewYorkBugKillers.tel
etc. etc.

Each domainer intends to have a folder or folders in their directory dedicated to listing pest control services in New York so that they can market to these companies for listing in their directory, but then what is the real value proposition of any directory?

Put another way, as the business owner, if I receive postcards and phone calls from a dozen .tel owners next month that are all trying to sell me on their directory, what would I do? What value do I see in any one?

Frankly the itchy registrar fingers on this extension has now got me a little spooked. I think the real category killers have a great shot but the further away you get the tougher row you have to hoe, but furthermore, does it also raise the possibility of the entire business model of monetizing .tel as a directory becoming extremely diluted, when anyone and everyone tries to make an ad hoc directory out of any 'generic' .tel.

Lastly, I cringe at the thought and sight of the word 'telsters' and pray to god for the sake of the extension that term does not take root.

*

CDM,

Thank you for this thoughtful discussion.

I, for one, am now taking a deep breath, and keeping my twitchy fingers miles away from any .tel registrars.



I plead guilty on coining the telster designation.

*

 

[WordWalker]

Twice before, I've tried communicate the importance of direct navigation traffic to the successful monetization of .tel, but everyone is so busy dreaming of .tel blue sky that apparently there's no time to address the particulars.

If direct navigation traffic brings a sufficient number of visitors to your .tel contact page and these are largely the kind of visitors who are in need of speaking to somebody over the phone, there's good prospects for success.

In the alternative, if you can drive visitors to your .tel page and provide them with what they need, you can build direct navigation traffic. Of course this will require more resources and more time.

If you can't show significant traffic to a prospective advertising client, why would they be interested in purchasing your directory services?

We can all kid ourselves about what we'd like to do, but when push comes to shove, I expect it'll be more of the same: no directory; no useful contact page - just another domain for sale with nothing else to show.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[plaggypig]

Twice before, I've tried communicate the importance of direct navigation traffic to the successful monetization of .tel, but everyone is so busy dreaming of .tel blue sky that apparently there's no time to address the particulars.

If direct navigation traffic brings a sufficient number of visitors to your .tel contact page and these are largely the kind of visitors who are in need of speaking to somebody over the phone, there's good prospects for success.

In the alternative, if you can drive visitors to your .tel page and provide them with what they need, you can build direct navigation traffic. Of course this will require more resources and more time.

If you can't show significant traffic to a prospective advertising client, why would they be interested in purchasing your directory services?

We can all kid ourselves about what we'd like to do, but when push comes to shove, I expect it'll be more of the same: no directory; no useful contact page - just another domain for sale with nothing else to show.

I hope I'm wrong.

But theoretically you could monetise a .tel even if nobody ever visited the actual web page, since the purpose of .tel is to be accessed using all sorts of different applications and services - not just HTTP. The marketing buzzword is "the webless web". Some people have been so fixated on the uniform .tel web page, they have missed the broader picture.

"Traffic" for .tel really means the number of reads from the DNS records, not just the number of web page hits. The former is a difficult (practically impossible) metric to measure, since the DNS network uses caching, so I suspect the monetisation model for .tel will be based on CPC and CPA. We'll probably see telecoms companies offering specialised services to .tel owners to facilitate this (premium phone lines, sms, proxy numbers, etc).

 

[FreakySteve]

Great post CDM...

I think that dot-tel is the "phonebook" and the domains are the potential categories within that book. Then the sub-domains would represent sub-categories or tighter niches, locations, etc.

If someone has a great "catgegory", e.g. domain, then their potential for creating a decent directory is better than someone with a more broad term or something that wouldn't work under that model. So a hotels.tel directory seems sound, but a widgets.tel, not so much, unless it is THE widgets directory. Where this would vary is in geo domains, so you could do subcategories (folders) under a specific region or territory and create listings for businesses in those categories for that region.

Dot-tel is interesting because it is different and generally (hopefully) this inspires new ways of thinking. Not having a web page presents unique challenges on all sides and I am sure there are ways to use this domain to make money that no one has even thought of yet.

Restrictions force creativity.

Lastly, I cringe at the thought and sight of the word 'telsters' and pray to god for the sake of the extension that term does not take root.

I hope it does :D

 

[MicroGuy]

For those that haven't seen this...

This is an interesting script (on right) that displays available .TELs based on recent live searches. It could be useful for some. As the names scroll by you can see a wide range of ideas, some of which are curious (and entertaining). Enjoy.

http://www.webnames.ca/tel/landrush.aspx?

 

[Tribulatio]

For those that haven't seen this...

This is an interesting script (on right) that displays available .TELs based on recent live searches. It could be useful for some. As the names scroll by you can see a wide range of ideas, some of which are curious (and entertaining). Enjoy.

http://www.webnames.ca/tel/landrush.aspx?

Thank you so much! I had not seen it: quite entertaining indeed. Right now, I saw somebody testing names for any type of railway network across Europe!

The third thing I want to say is a potential criticism that I think needs to be looked at seriously. I want to give it the label 'dilution'. What I mean by 'dilution' is the following: Would the yellow pages be the yellow pages as we know it, if there were also a blue pages, a brown pages, a lavender pages, a turquoise pages, a cornflower blue pages, a cherry blossom pink pages ... etc. etc?

Very good remark, I had thought about that too. Actually, if I understand right, a key element will be the registry's .tel directory. The directory is supposed to overcome the obvious problem that there will be only one smith.tel available: thanks to tags, one should be able to find a person or a business, even if that person or business is not the owner of the matching .tel name.

For people doing business with .tel, the crucial issue will be: how will the RANKING in the .tel directory take place? For instance, if both hotels.tel and goodhotels.tel have put the "hotels" tag in their entry, will hotels.tel automatically come first or not? In other words, will the ownership of the generic name play a decisive role, or will another algorithm be used for the ranking?

Not a big issue for something unique, or for natural traffic (if ever there is one), but certainly an issue for searches based on .tel's future directory.

It would be very interesting to know what Justin could say about this issue.

 

[plaggypig]

For people doing business with .tel, the crucial issue will be: how will the RANKING in the .tel directory take place? For instance, if both hotels.tel and goodhotels.tel have put the "hotels" tag in their entry, will hotels.tel automatically come first or not? In other words, will the ownership of the generic name play a decisive role, or will another algorithm be used for the ranking?

That is a great question.

 

[FreakySteve]

Does anyone know if there will be access to the control panel for domain owners before the domains are accessible to the public?

It would be nice to pre-populate some data. If not, what will the default information be?

 

[Ms Domainer]

Twice before, I've tried communicate the importance of direct navigation traffic to the successful monetization of .tel, but everyone is so busy dreaming of .tel blue sky that apparently there's no time to address the particulars.

If direct navigation traffic brings a sufficient number of visitors to your .tel contact page and these are largely the kind of visitors who are in need of speaking to somebody over the phone, there's good prospects for success.

In the alternative, if you can drive visitors to your .tel page and provide them with what they need, you can build direct navigation traffic. Of course this will require more resources and more time.

If you can't show significant traffic to a prospective advertising client, why would they be interested in purchasing your directory services?

We can all kid ourselves about what we'd like to do, but when push comes to shove, I expect it'll be more of the same: no directory; no useful contact page - just another domain for sale with nothing else to show.

I hope I'm wrong.

*

As with any new TLD, direct navigation is not something that one should bank on. I believe that most of us are aware of that.

Even .nets don't get that much direct navigation, and as computer users become savvier, you'll see less on .com--you all may like your parking pages, but users hate them. Hell, I hate landing on them, especially those ones with creepy popups. In fact, dot-com could eventually become known as the "parking TLD."

With .tel, the hope is that these pages will get quickly indexed by the search engines, despite the scant content. Also, Google and others can be assured that .tel pages won't contain malware (where they lead you is another matter, but that's true of any webpage).

From my understanding, the direct connection to DNS means that updates are real-time, and so is indexing.

Will these pages rank high according to keyword(s) in the domain name? At this point, that is unknown. Maybe Justin can address that possibility in more detail.

A lot will depend how the .tel people get the word out. Those of us who invested will also be instrumental in its success.

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