How is .tel different from other TLDs?

All existing Top Level Domains (e.g. .com, .net, .org, .fr, .mobi…) serve the same purpose: they map domain names to web sites, as shown below.

1. When you input a traditional domain name, www.IBM.com, into your browser, it queries the Domain Name System (DNS).

2. The DNS replies with an IP Address, 129.42.18.103.

3. Your browser uses the IP address to locate IBM’s website. The .tel is not about web content and does not use the DNS in this way.

The .tel is not about web content and does not use the DNS in this way.

The .tel has a very different purpose.

It maps domain names to contact information and keywords stored directly in the DNS, enabling companies to use the DNS as a data store, as shown below.

1. When you input a .tel domain, Hertz.tel, into your web browser, it queries the Domain Name System (DNS).

2. The DNS does not return an IP Address as with other domains. Rather, it returns the contact information and keywords that Hertz chose to store directly in the DNS.

3. You can then click on one of the contact details provided by Hertz (tel, email, skype, etc…) and be immediately connected.