.tel is a service that allows users to store and manage all their contact information and keywords directly in the DNS (Domain Name System) without the need to build, host or manage a Web site. Indeed, Telnic officials said .tel is a new communications hub for individuals and businesses that bypasses the need for Web sites when publishing live information to the Internet. Moreover, .tel will enable secure sharing of contact information and personalization of online services under a .tel domain owner’s control, which has never before been possible.

According to a Telnic Web page focusing on developers:

"From a developer's perspective, the .tel is a personal encryptable data store for contact information, geolocation and identity publishing, fully owned by the .tel registrant, with simple read and write APIs."