Dont ask for whom the bell .tels

Telnic, the registry operator for the new .tel top level domain, is accepting applications as of today for trademarks form businesses and organizations worldwide. Until February 2nd, 2009, trademark owenrs can register their brand using the .tel domain, a presence Telnic CEO Khashayar Mahdavi described as "the most significant innovation in the domain name system since .com".

Unlike .com, which merely stakes virtual space on the web, .tel is a link to contact information. And unlike a phone book, .tel can contains not only phone numbers, physical addresses and email addresses, but also links to one's Second Life or Xbox Live presence, or their Facebook or Myspace page. Individuals can also choose to have their location online, opening up new possibilities both in loss of privacy and marketing opportunity.

Initial registration, according to a post in the New York Times, is open only to businesses and other organizations, and will cost $400 a year. After February 3rd, the "land rush" will begin with registration open to individuals at $150 a year. That period ends on March 24th, when anyone else can register a .tel domain for $20 a year.