Garrett Saundry.TEL domain names won’t be going live until February 3, 2009, but anyone that wants to get a better idea of how .TEL works can get a free trial name through Telnic’s VIP program.
Through the program, people can create a name in the format [yourName].vip.tel and manage contact information using a beta release of the TelHosting software.
The VIP names are working .TEL names and can be used up until February 3, 2009, when they will be deleted. They can be viewed through a web browser on PCs and mobile devices and will also work with the sample applications for the Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Mobile and Outlook.
It’s important to note the TelHosting interface and the sample applications are early releases, so they’re rough around the edges, but they give a good sense of how .TEL will work once applications and .TEL are fully released next year.
The TelHosting beta does not include the “Friending” engine or the built in privacy, which will feature 1024 bit encryption of private data. This means that any contact information entered will be publicly visible. In our tests, we’ve tended to use sample data for personal information, while being less restrictive with company information.
One small “gotcha” a number of people noticed in the beta TelHosting is the required format of telephone numbers. You must use a full international number such as +16041231234. The error message doesn’t clarify this and it can be somewhat infuriating, until you work it out.
To get your free .TEL VIP name, simply contact Webnames.ca at support@webnames.ca or 1-866-221-7878 and we will request one on your behalf.
Learn more about .TEL, or pre-book a .TEL name risk free today.