clipped from: bits.blogs.nytimes.com 
On Wednesday, companies and organizations can register Web addresses with a new top-level domain, .tel. The new domain, which stores and encrypts contact information directly into the Domain Name System, has the potential to become a phone book for the Internet.
A .tel domain name links to the contact information of businesses, organizations and individuals. Information can include telephone numbers; links to Web sites, including a Facebook or MySpace page; e-mail addresses; instant messaging names, and, if you wish, identities for virtual games such as Xbox Live or Second Life.
“There is nothing else like this on the Web,” said Mr. Mansell. Rather than sending a note out to all of your contacts, like some contact management services, the update is seamless.