.Tel Domain FAQs

.Tel is a top-level domain (TLD) that lets you take full control over how and where people reach you. Store, update and publish all your contact information, Web links and keywords directly on the Internet under your unique .tel domain.

Simple, fast and accessible from any device with Internet connection, the new domain allows individuals and businesses to be easily reached without the need to build, host or manage a Web site.

Back to Top

Businesses and individuals can benefit from a .tel domain. .tel domains allows you to:

• Save web hosting fees and web design costs.
• Gain an effective mobile presence and connect with customers from all internet-enabled mobile devices, with special add-on features for Blackberry, iPhone and Windows Mobile.
• Increase your search engine visibility by optimizing your .tel website through built-in multi-lingual keywords.
• Generate leads by integrating all your means of communication into a central easy-to-remember and easy-to-find .tel domain.
• Gain a competitive advantage by making your business easy to reach.
• Connect instantaneously with friends, family, and acquaintances.

Click here to see how you can monetize .tel domains.

Back to Top

While other registrars have come and gone, DomainPeople has established itself as a major player in the domain name registration arena with almost 11 years of experience. When you register with us, you get:

• Experience —DomainPeople's history of successful domain name registrations and new TLD launches (eg. .ASIA, .EU and .MOBI) assures you that your registration will be handled by seasoned professionals.
• Credibility - DomainPeople is an accredited registrar with Telnic Limited, the ICANN-appointed registry, adding to its long list of well-established relationships with other registries. The company is not a reseller, and therefore provides you with the lowest prices.

Back to Top

Please contact sales toll-free at 1-877-734-3667, or email sales@domainpeople.com

Back to Top

Anyone! There are no restrictions to register a .tel, so anyone can register. But because anyone can register, and .tel domains are taken under a first-come, first-serve basis, we highly recommend you to register your premium .tel domain now.

Back to Top

All devices and anyone with internet connection can be connected with your .tel Web site. It works well with cell phones, BlackBerry devices, iPhones, Windows Mobile, Web browsers and Microsoft Outlook. Developers are continuously building new add-on features with .tel so look for exciting applications for .tel!

Back to Top

You can post any information that can be used to contact you. Consider business information such as your work phone, cell phone, company mailing address, email address or fax number. Alternatively, you can use it for your personal home phone, cell phone, mailing address, personal email address. Or use it for both business and personal! It can also include your personal LinkedIn address, or Facebook page or blog.

Most importantly, you can control what others see. Your privacy settings allow you to control which information is public, and which information is visible only by people you authorize.

Back to Top

Most domain names use the domain name server (DNS) to map between domain names and IP addresses. But .tel stores contact information directly in the DNS. For a .tel domain name, this means:

• No Web site is necessary
• Results are returned quickly
• Updates are real-time
• You have more control
• Access is easy for mobile devices
• Global access

Click here for the technical background of this concept.

Back to Top

You can use a .tel for many applications. Businesses or individuals can publish unlimited contact information from one online location with a .tel domain name.

When you give someone your .tel, they get a single address with all your contact information. It’s like giving a business card, but you can add much more information. And every time you change or add new contact information—whether you change jobs, move or get a new cell phone—you don’t need to inform anyone or everyone. You can simply update your .tel Web site.

You can use it with any device with Internet access. It’s completely integrated with BlackBerry, iPhone, and Windows Mobile so your friends can easily add your contact information, find updated information, and directly download onto their mobile address book.

If you own a business, you can also use a .tel to integrate all your means of communication into one single point of contact. Make it easy for customer to find you. Whether they are out and about, or at home, they can rely on a .tel to find you.

Back to Top

.tel domains are priced at US$24.95 per year, and can be registered for up to 10 years.

Back to Top

You can protect your .tel data, restricting access only to people you authorize. Easily set what your boss, friends and family may view through different access levels for each person. Watch video on how you can protect your private data.

Back to Top

Within your Account Manager control panel, you are provided access to a tool where you can start adding your contact information, links, location details and much more to your .tel domain. Click on “.tel Web site” link. You will see the username for your .tel Web hosting account, which comprises of the word “tel” and your domain name. Click on the button “Log into .tel Control Panel”, and a new window will open for you to enter your login details. From this interface, you will be able to add and manage your .tel content. The password was emailed to you shortly after you registered your .tel domain. If you forgot your password, you can also click on the “Forgot your password?” link.

To see what you can do with your .tel domain, visit these guides and tutorials:

• Quick-Start Guide demonstrating the basics of the .tel
• Your Guide to .tel with detailed instructions on managing your .tel
• Your Guide to TelFriends about privacy and friending in .tel
• Video Tutorial online or for download - a walkthrough of basic .tel operations

Back to Top

A .tel domain name may have a minimum of 3 characters and a maximum of 63, not including the .tel suffix. Every domain must contain at least one letter from a-z or "A to Z" in standard US ASCII script. No domain can begin or end with a hyphen, nor can a domain have a hyphen in the 3rd and 4th position. A .tel domain may not consist purely of digits.

Back to Top

You are required to abide by the registry’s Acceptable Use Policy.

I registered my .tel domain during the Sunrise and Landrush phase. What is my domain expiration date?

Your Sunrise and Landrush domains are registered for 3 years. Domains registered prior to March 23rd, 2009 23:59:59 GMT had their registration term extended slightly and now carry an expiry date of March 22nd, 2012 23:59:59 GMT.

Back to Top

Prior to opening .tel domain name registrations to the general public, the holders, assignees, and licensees of registered national, Benelux and Community trademarks can register a .tel domain name that corresponds to their trademark.

The sunrise period begins December 3, 2008 and ends February 2, 2009.

The main objective of the sunrise period is to prevent abusive registrations of trademarked domain names. Multiple applications for the same .tel domain name will be processed on the basis of the “first-come, first-served” principle. This implies that the first correct, up-to-date and accurate sunrise application will be processed first.

Back to Top

The .tel sunrise is open to all holders, licensees, assignees of registered trademarks that are eligible for the .tel sunrise period. Please click here for more information on eligible trademarks.

Back to Top

The designated validation agent for the .tel sunrise registration period is Deloitte.

Back to Top

Yes. For each sunrise application received, the registry will make information regarding the sunrise applicant and trademark available in a Web-based database (http://sunrise.nic.tel/). It also will show any other claims for the same domain name filed by other sunrise applicants.

Back to Top

The registry and the validation agent intend to process applications received during the sunrise period in an efficient and expedient fashion. The total time required or specific time required for a particular application depends on a number of factors, not all of which are known of at this stage, but that include:

• The total number of applications received
• The accuracy of the data submitted to the registry
• Whether documentary evidence is required and whether it meets the requirements in the sunrise policy and the guidelines
• The number of requests for reconsiderations.

If the number of applications is high, the validation process could last several months.

Back to Top

You are required to abide by the registry’s Sunrise Policy and Acceptable Use Policy.

Back to Top

You will receive a refund for your Sunrise application fee. The refund will be provided within 30 days of the domain being registered.

Back to Top

You are required to abide by the registry’s Sunrise Policy and Acceptable Use Policy.

Back to Top

To qualify, applicants must:

• Register a .tel domain that exactly matches the trademark (eg., If the trademark or service mark is “DomainPeople”, the domain applied for under the sunrise period can only be domainpeople.tel.)
• Have trademarks registered with national effect.
• Have a trademark applied for before May 30, 2008 and registered before the sunrise application submission date.
• Submit their sunrise application between December 3, 2008 and February 2, 2009.
• Choose a name based on word or figurative (device) trademarks that consist exclusively or predominantly of words.

In addition, .tel sunrise applicants should note:

• Names registered during the sunrise period carry a three-year term.
• Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Deloitte is the validation agent for these applications.
• Total Price: US$375 for sunrise applications.

The application fee reflects Deloitte's service plus the three-year registration term (US$74.85). The application fee (US$300.15) will be refunded if another applicant submits an application for the same name prior to yours and successfully passes validation. You will not be charged the registration fee until your domain is successfully registered. Please review the registry’s policies and guides for more information.

• Sunrise Guide
• Sunrise Policy

Back to Top

The following are all eligible to apply under the .tel sunrise period:

• The reported owner of the trademark
• A licensee of the trademark
• An assignee of the trademark

In case the sunrise applicant is a licensee or assignee, the sunrise applicant may be requested by the registry and/or the validation agent to provide a declaration. Such a declaration must be completed and signed by both the owner of the claimed registered trademark and the sunrise applicant.

Back to Top

In order for a sunrise application to be considered valid, the applicant must prove that the trademark has been registered within a country, region or locality, or by a trademark registry that is reflected in the WIPO ST.3 standard.

A registered trademark must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible:

• Applied for prior to May 30, 2008
• Registered and in full force and effect prior to the date that the application was submitted to the registry
• Registered by a competent authority having jurisdiction over an entire nation (e.g. national trademarks, community trademarks, Benelux trademarks) prior to the date that the application is submitted to the registry.

Sunrise applications based upon figurative marks will also be accepted, as long as:

• The mark exclusively contains a name, OR
• The word element is predominant and can be clearly separated or distinguished from the device element

provided that:

• All alphanumeric characters (including hyphens) in the trademark are contained in the domain name applied for, in the same order as that in which they appear.
• The general impression of the word is apparent, without any reasonable possibility of misreading the characters or the order in which they appear in the mark.

Back to Top

This depends on the legislation governing the trademark. In all such cases, the sunrise applicant must be able to provide evidence of actual registration (or equivalent status) prior to the date that the application is submitted to the registry.

Back to Top

No. The .tel sunrise period is only open to marks that are registered.

Back to Top

The validation agent will verify both the sunrise applicant’s relation to the trademark and the trademark’s correspondence to the domain name applied for. For the former, the following bibliographical data must be provided by the Sunrise applicant at the minimum (and not limited to):

• Registered trademark: The exact word or phrase described by the registered trademark used in the sunrise application.
• Registration Number: Number of the registered mark’s current registration. This is not the trademark application number. This number must enable the validation agent to access the correct registration entry in the trademark registry or trademark office.
• Registration Country: Location (country/region/organisation) where the right is established, using the appropriate official WIPO ST.3 two-letter code.
• Registration Date: Date on which the trademark office registered the trademark (this is not the application date but the day for which the mark is registered and has entered into full force and effect).
• Applicant capacity: The capacity of the sunrise applicant (owner, licensee or assignee).

Back to Top

In the .tel sunrise period, the requested domain must correspond with registered national trademarks or service marks.

Sunrise applications must consist of the complete and identical name which is protected by the registered trademark, as can be verified by the validation agent on the basis of an official online, freely-accessible trademark database or on the basis of the provided documentary evidence.

For example, the holder of the registered trademark DELOITTE can register the domain name <deloitte.tel>.

Certain exceptions are provided for in consideration of the technical limitations of the domain name system (DNS). These are outlined in the question “What exceptions are there to the identical match rule?”.

Back to Top

The following exceptional circumstances will not lead to an identical match, but they will be deemed an acceptable match. No priority or any other advantage shall be given to identical matches over acceptable matches.

Exceptions for spaces, punctuation and special characters For registered trademarks that contain spaces between textual elements, the spaces may be omitted or replaced by a hyphen. The resulting text will be considered an acceptable match with the registered trademark. For example, for a registered mark that contains the text “A B C D”, the domains: “A-B-C-D.tel”, “ABCD.tel”, “AB-CD.tel”, etc. are considered acceptable matches.

Punctuation and special characters in a registered trademark may also be omitted or replaced by hyphens. These characters include but are not limited to the following:

~ @ # !, §, % ^ © or &

Punctuation and special characters may also be spelled out in full utilizing letter digit hyphen (LDH) characters with appropriate word(s) describing the character. For example, “A+B” can be written as “AandB.tel” or “AplusB.tel”. Both will be considered an acceptable match. The appropriateness of the replacement word will be determined by the validation agent with additional information sought from the sunrise applicant should further clarification be required.

Importantly, the hyphen is also recognised as a special character that may be omitted or spelled out.

Exceptions for Accented and Combined Characters Registered trademarks that contain elements beyond the LDH repertoire as technically accepted by the DNS (without IDN provisions) may replace those characters with corresponding LDH characters for which the additional element is removed or for which the characters are decoupled.

Back to Top

If you are requested to submit documentary evidence to substantiate the trademark claim made in your sunrise application, DomainPeople will send you an email to request for more information. According to the .tel Sunrise Policy, you may be required to provide, by way of example and without limitation, evidence such as:

• An electronic copy of an official document issued by the corresponding trademark office or trademark registry indicating that the trademark is registered or applied for before May 30, 2008. Either the original registration or, in case the expiry date of the initial registration is before the actual submission date of the sunrise application, the latest renewal certificate should be submitted.
• If you are an assignee or licensee, you may be asked to provide corresponding declarations.
• An original or certified copy of any document the validation agent deems relevant. The validation agent may also request a certified translation of documents that are not in English.

View the list of jurisdictions with approved on-line databases in the next question. The validation agent is unlikely to request additional documentary evidence in respect of the databases in these jurisdictions. It may request documentary evidence in respect of jurisdictions not on this list. Note, however, that the Validation Agent may request documentary evidence in respect of any application.

Back to Top

Any request for documentary evidence must be responded to within the time specified in the notice requesting the evidence. Submissions will be primarily by electronic format. The electronic documentation must meet the following technical requirements:

• An electronic file in .PDF format and a maximum size of 1 MB
• Electronic documents must be in DIN A4 or Letter standard layout
• The contents must be humanly readable
• The documentary evidence must not be retouched or otherwise altered

Other formats, an original copy and/or a certified copy of an original may be requested as the validation agent deems necessary.

Jurisdictions with Approved Online Database

The following jurisdictions have approved online databases. The validation agent is unlikely to request additional documentary evidence in respect of the databases in these jurisdictions. The validation agent may request documentary evidence in respect of jurisdictions not on this list. Note, however, that the validation agent may request documentary evidence in for any application.

Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chili, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Community, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan1, Korea2, Lithuania, Macao, New Zeeland, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan3, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, WIPO,

1. In case the information is not presented in Standard US ASCII, a declaration signed by the Applicant may be required
2. In case the information is not presented in Standard US ASCII, a declaration signed by the Applicant may be required
3. In case the information is not presented in Standard US ASCII, a declaration signed by the Applicant may be required

Back to Top

If the validation agent determines an application does not meet the sunrise requirements, it will notify the registry, and the registry may reject the application.

If there were other sunrise applications for the domain name concerned, the validation agent will proceed with the next application for the same domain name.

Back to Top

Yes, a sunrise applicant whose .tel application has been rejected can file a sunrise reconsideration request with the validation agent within 10 calendar days following the day the application was rejected. It is the registrant’s responsibility to determine the status of their application, which can be checked here. Should you wish to file a reconsideration request, complete this form and follow the instructions as stated on this form. Please note the registry charges a US$800 reconsideration fee.

Back to Top

Yes, within 10 calendar days of publication date of the registry’s decision, any third party may request for reconsideration based on:

The sunrise applicant is not the owner, licensee or assignee of the registered trademark on which the sunrise application is based

The domain name applied for is not identical to the trademark invoked in the sunrise application, as required by the .tel Sunrise Policy

The trademark invoked by the applicant does not fulfil the requirements as set out in the .tel Sunrise Policy

Back to Top