ENUM is an internationally approved method of connecting the telephone
communications network to the Internet.
ENUM (telephone number mapping) is a suite of protocols that defines a rule
making it possible to relate a domain name to a telephone number, and then use
that domain name to identify various communications devices such as voice, fax,
mobile phone, voicemail, email, text messaging, location-based services, IP telephony addresses or web pages.
The first main use of ENUM will be to link different VoIP servers so that
telephones within businesses that use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
technology to connect users within an internal network can use the same
technology to connect users to external customers via the Internet.
ENUM uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to create a connection between the
addresses of computers connected to the Internet and domain names, which are
much easier for people to memorise. The majority of Internet users are
probably only familiar with domain names in combination with web sites or
email addresses. However, in future the ENUM protocol working with the DNS
infrastructure will make it possible to obtain information about
telecommunication services and access them via domains.
ENUM translates a telephone number into a domain name.
For example:
01865 332211 becomes 1.1.2.2.3.3.5.6.8.1.4.4.e164.arpa
Where '44'
is the UK's international dialling code.
'e164' is the name of the telephone
numbering system.
'.arpa' is the Internet infrastructure equivalent of .uk
or .com.
Upon placing an order for your ENUM telephone domain a registrant will be
required to prove they are
both the end user of the telephone number and are entitled to the ENUM
registration.
UK ENUM Consortium (UKEC) is the limited
company set up with the recognition of the UK Government to administer the UK
ENUM top level domain. UKEC have contracted
Nominet to operate the registry
infrastructure for UK ENUM.
.tel Domain
Information.
An alternative
system which has some similarities to Enum is the .tel domain managed by
Telnic. The .tel is a service that allows individuals and businesses to
store and manage all their contact information and keywords directly in the
DNS without the need to build, host or manage a website. It has been designed
to act as a repository for all a company's or individual's contact details. It
could feature phone numbers, e-mail addresses, GPS data or buttons that kick
off a Skype call. It will also work with many different devices such as smart
phones.
For more information please visit:
Telnic.org
Please note .tel domain general registration will be open to everyone
beginning March 24, 2009.