The wait is over! The highly innovative .tel top-level domain (TLD) is now open for general release.

The .tel domain name allows you to store, publish and update online, all your contact information and keywords under your unique domain name, without the need for a website.

The .tel has a very different purpose to other domains, by mapping the domain to information and keywords chosen by you, your contact information can be returned to those looking to locate you all in one easy click.

Toys.com bought by Toys R Us for $5.1m

The importance retailers are now placing on online trading was highlighted with the purchase of the domain name Toys.com, brought by Toys R Us for a whopping $5.1m.

Toys R Us which trades from 73 outlets in the UK, entered into a bidding war for the key domain name with domain holding company National A-1, which was its sole competitor for toys.com for the last £2m of the auction.

As one of the world’s largest dedicated toy and baby product retailers, Toys R Us have confirmed their commitment to the online sale channel through the acquisition of this domain name.

ICANN announces set-back in new TLD application process.

ICANN the organisation responsible for managing and co-ordinating the Domain Name System, announced at its annual convention, held this week in Mexico city, that the opening up of the application process for new TLDs will be delayed until late 2009 or the first quarter of 2010.

Some of the new TLDs (top level domains) being put forward include .music and .sport. The news came as surprise and generated some disappointment for organisations promoting new domain extensions, however ICANN Executive Officer, Paul Levins, highlighted that the decision was taken in the interest of ensuring best practice throughout the application process, and broader issues involving trade mark policy were being considered.