The .TEL domain has always offered a unique proposition in the digital landscape. Often described as the digital business card of domain extensions, it provides a distinct web presence where customers can easily locate crucial contact information about your brand or personal identity in one consolidated place. For years, the .TEL domain served a specific, niche purpose: a dedicated hub for contact details, rather than a conventional website platform. However, the digital world is constantly evolving, and user needs are shifting. Recognizing this dynamic environment, 2017 marked a pivotal moment for the .TEL domain, ushering in a transformative change that fundamentally redefines its utility and potential.
This significant evolution means that .TEL is no longer confined to its original scope. Instead, it is embracing a broader vision, transforming into a versatile tool for individuals and businesses seeking a streamlined and effective online presence. The core mission remains steadfast: to empower users with a dedicated web address for publishing essential contact details online. Yet, the method of achieving this mission has been dramatically enhanced and modernized. This strategic pivot ensures that the .TEL domain remains relevant and valuable in an increasingly competitive digital arena, offering more functionality and flexibility than ever before.
Embracing the Future: The New Telhosting Platform
At the heart of this transformation is the introduction of the new Telhosting platform. This isn’t merely an update; it’s a complete reimagining of what a .TEL domain can achieve. Moving beyond its prior limitations, the new Telhosting platform is designed as a powerful single-page product. This focused approach allows users to create a clean, modern, and highly effective online presence, perfectly suited for showcasing key information without the complexity of multi-page websites. This single-page format is ideal for professionals, small businesses, and individuals who want to provide immediate access to their services, products, and contact points, ensuring visitors get the information they need with minimal clicks.
Unlocking New Possibilities: Key Features of the Enhanced Platform
The new Telhosting platform is packed with an array of features designed to enhance user engagement and broaden the utility of your .TEL domain. These additions empower users to craft a richer, more dynamic online profile, transforming a simple contact page into a comprehensive digital storefront or professional portfolio:
- Rich Content Integration: Beyond mere text, users can now easily integrate PDF documents, allowing for the sharing of resumes, brochures, menus, or detailed service guides directly on their page.
- Promotional Offers: Showcase your latest products, services, or special promotions with dedicated sections, making your .TEL page a proactive marketing tool.
- Multimedia Support: Engage your audience visually with the ability to add high-quality images and video content. This allows for product demonstrations, team introductions, or visual portfolios, bringing your digital presence to life.
- Direct Sales Capability: A significant leap forward, the platform now supports direct product and service sales via a seamless PayPal interface. This turns your .TEL page into a functional e-commerce gateway for single-item sales or simplified service offerings.
- Custom Design Options: Tailor the look and feel of your page with custom design functionalities, ensuring your .TEL presence aligns perfectly with your brand identity.
- Image Advertisements: Integrate image-based advertisements to highlight specific promotions, partnerships, or features, maximizing visibility.
These new features collectively elevate the .TEL domain beyond a simple directory entry. It becomes a versatile, user-friendly, and powerful tool for building a modern, single-page website that effectively communicates, promotes, and even sells, all from a concise and memorable web address.
Crucial Information for Current .TEL Domain Owners
With such significant changes underway, it’s essential for current .TEL domain holders to understand the transition process and the actions required. The new platform represents a departure from the previous architecture, specifically in its focus on a single-page product and its inability to support multiple pages or sub-domains as the older system did. This means the current and new Telhosting platforms cannot co-exist in their previous forms, necessitating a clear transition plan for all users.
Key Dates and Actions to Remember:
- Data Backup Deadline: If you are currently utilizing the legacy Telhosting platform and wish to preserve your existing data, it is imperative that you back up your domain data before March 12, 2017. Failure to do so will result in the permanent loss of your content. This backup will produce an XML file containing all your data, which can then be used for reference or to populate content on the new platform or an alternative hosting solution.
- Platform Retirement: As of March 13, 2017, access to your .TEL domain data on the old Telhosting platform will cease. The legacy system will be officially retired and taken offline.
- New Account Details: Starting February 13, 2017, Telnic began issuing new Telhosting account details via email to all .TEL owners. These details provide access to the new platform, allowing you to begin managing and populating your content. Please note that any content uploaded to the new platform during this period will not go live until the old platform is retired on March 13, 2017.
- Support Transition: From March 13, 2017, Telnic will assume direct responsibility for providing access and support to all .TEL users leveraging the new Telhosting platform. For those opting for third-party hosting, support will be provided by their chosen registrar, reseller, or hosting provider.
These changes reflect Telnic’s commitment to community feedback, striving to deliver a more contemporary and user-centric platform. The ability to build a robust, single-page website with enhanced functionalities is an exciting prospect for all .TEL domain owners, promising a more impactful and versatile online presence.
Frequently Asked Questions About the .TEL Transition
- When will the restrictions be lifted from .tel and what will be my options then for using my domain?
All previous restrictions will be lifted from the .TEL domain on March 13, 2017. From this date onwards, and subject to the support offered by your chosen registrar or reseller, you will have greater flexibility. You can opt to use your .TEL domain as a traditional website, leverage the features of our new, free Telhosting platform, or choose a paid Telhosting service that incorporates subdomains through a third-party hosting provider for more advanced needs.
- When will I be able to access my new Telhosting account?
Telnic commenced issuing new Telhosting account details via email to all .TEL domain owners starting February 13, 2017. From this date, you could log in and begin managing content on the new platform. It’s important to remember that any content published on the new platform during this period will not become publicly visible on the internet until the current (old) Telhosting platform is fully retired on March 13, 2017.
- What happens if I do not receive my new account details by the end of February 2017?
If you haven’t received your new Telhosting account details by the end of February 2017, please promptly contact Telnic’s customer service by sending an email to [email protected]. In your email, confirm the specific domain name(s) in question. We will primarily use the email address associated with your old Telhosting account profile for your new account. Additionally, we cross-reference this with the email address linked to the domain registrant in our WHOIS database. To ensure seamless communication, we strongly advise verifying that both these email addresses are current and accurate in your records.
- When will the current Telhosting platform be retired?
The existing Telhosting platform will be officially retired and taken offline on March 13, 2017. You are welcome to continue using the current Telhosting platform up until March 12, 2017, but it will be inaccessible after this date.
- What happens to my data on the current Telhosting platform after March 13, 2017?
All .TEL domain owner data residing on the current Telhosting system will become permanently inaccessible after March 13, 2017. Any .TEL domain owner wishing to retain a copy of their data from the legacy system must utilize the BACKUP function available in their current Telhosting account prior to March 13, 2017. This action will generate an XML file containing all your data, which can then serve as a valuable reference for populating your new Telhosting account or as a data source for an independent third-party hosting solution if you choose that path.
- What happens if I do not make a copy of my data before the 13th of March 2017?
If you fail to create a backup copy of your data before March 13, 2017, all data associated with your current Telhosting account will be irreversibly deleted. As the current Telhosting platform is being permanently retired, this data will not be recoverable under any circumstances.
- Why is Telnic not migrating my data from the current Telhosting platform to the new?
The decision not to directly migrate data stems from the fundamental differences between the old and new platforms. The current Telhosting platform is being retired, and the new platform is intentionally designed with a different functional scope and data structure. It is not intended as a like-for-like replacement in terms of backend architecture. Consequently, there isn’t a direct or compatible data migration path. The vast majority of .TEL owners typically publish a single page of contacts and content, making the process of logging in and republishing your contact records a quick and straightforward exercise, allowing you to immediately take advantage of the new functionalities that were not present in the older system.
- What if I wish to continue to host my .tel domain on a platform that supports subdomains?
The current Telhosting platform, which supported subdomains, will be shut down on March 13, 2017. If your operational needs require continued support for subdomains on your .TEL domain, please contact [email protected]. Telnic will be happy to assist you in reviewing and exploring suitable third-party hosting options that can accommodate your requirements for subdomain support.
- What happens to any new .tel domains that I register before March 13, 2017?
For any new .TEL domains you register up until March 13, 2017, you will continue to manage them for live internet publishing purposes on the current Telhosting platform. This allows for continuity of service during the transition period for recently acquired domains.
- What happens to any new .tel domains that I buy after March 13, 2017?
After March 13, 2017, when you register a new .TEL domain, you will receive clear information from both your registrar and Telnic. This communication will detail the process for claiming your complimentary hosting account on the new Telhosting platform for your newly acquired .TEL domain. Telnic’s official website (www.telnic.org) will feature a dedicated page specifically for Telhosting management. On this centralized hub, .TEL owners will have the capability to set up new Telhosting accounts, efficiently add additional .TEL domains to an existing account, manage their domain(s) comprehensively, and submit support requests as needed. Alternatively, you always retain the flexibility to use your .TEL domain for any purpose of your choosing, independent of the free Telhosting service.
- What happens if I do not access my new Telhosting account and add some contacts or content?
The content from your existing (current) Telhosting account will automatically disappear on March 13, 2017. If you have not yet logged into your new Telhosting account and populated it with any data by this critical date, your .TEL domain will default to displaying a standard template page. However, any content you add to your new account after March 13, 2017, will be automatically published and become live instantly.
- What happens if I take no action before March 13, 2017?
If you do not take any proactive action before March 13, 2017, an account will be automatically created for you and your domains on the new Telhosting platform. Telnic will then send you the necessary access details via email. While the account will be created, your new account and associated domains will remain empty and inactive until you log in and add your desired content. It is crucial to remember that your account and all data on the current (old) Telhosting system will become inaccessible after March 12, 2017. Therefore, it is paramount that you back up any data you wish to retain before this deadline.
- Is there a smartphone app to help manage my .tel domain content on the new Telhosting platform?
Yes, absolutely! Telnic is committed to providing convenient management tools. A brand new iOS and Android application will be available, specifically designed to enable .TEL owners using the Telhosting platform to fully manage their domain content directly from their smartphone. These user-friendly apps will be available for free download from Telnic’s website, as well as from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, starting in March 2017.
- What are the functional differences between the current and new Telhosting platforms?
The new Telhosting platform represents a streamlined and modern approach, functioning primarily as a single-page product. You can experience an example of the new product in action by visiting: http://telpage.tel. It provides a more intuitive and contemporary interface, allowing users to:
- Efficiently publish contact and various content records.
- Seamlessly add PDF documents for richer information sharing.
- Showcase promotional product and service offers effectively.
- Enhance visual engagement by adding images and videos.
- Facilitate direct sales of products and services through a PayPal interface.
- Customize the design to align with personal or brand aesthetics.
- Integrate an image advert for focused promotions.
Conversely, the new platform does not support a number of features that were present in the current (old) platform. This strategic decision to exclude certain features was made after careful consideration of customer feedback and comprehensive usage statistics, ensuring the new platform focuses on the most valued functionalities:
- No support for multiple pages or sub-domains.
- Removal of Telfriends and private data support.
- The .TEL-specific search functionality has been discontinued.
- No support for multiple profile management.
- Discontinuation of Telhosting product language support for Arabic, Czech, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian.
- Removal of SOAP API access for registrars and domain owners.
- No direct Google AdSense integration.
- How will Telnic support the new Telhosting platform?
From March 13, 2017, Telnic will take over direct responsibility for supporting all domain owners who utilize the new Telhosting platform. All support requests from these users should be directed to [email protected], and Telnic will handle these inquiries directly and efficiently.
- If I am not using the Telhosting platform, who do I contact for .tel domain support?
Beginning March 13, 2017, if you have questions regarding your .TEL domain name and have chosen not to use the official Telhosting platform, your primary point of contact for support should be your domain registrar or reseller. If you have opted to use a third-party hosting service for your .TEL domain, then your respective hosting provider will be responsible for providing the necessary support.
- Will domain owners be charged for the new Telhosting platform?
No, Telnic is committed to fostering the .TEL community. To that end, Telnic will continue to provide a free and entirely optional Telhosting service to all members of the .TEL community. This ensures that every .TEL domain owner has access to a functional and modern platform without additional costs.
- Will my domain registration and ownership status be affected by the Telhosting changes?
Absolutely not. These changes to the Telhosting platform will have no impact whatsoever on your fundamental domain registration and ownership status. You will unequivocally continue to be the rightful owner of your .TEL domain. Furthermore, there is no alteration to the contractual relationship you maintain with your registrar or reseller concerning crucial domain lifecycle activities such as domain renewals, domain transfers, and WHOIS updates. Your registrar will remain your consistent and primary point of contact for all these essential domain-specific management activities.