1. Having problems dialling in to the local access number for your area?

   As of June 23, 2008, 10-digit dialling is in effect throughout all of Alberta and BC. Telephone calls dialled without area code will be completed until September 12, 2008 however some dial-up software will have difficulty completing the call after receiving TELUS' intercept announcement. After September 12, 2008, calls will not be completed unless 10-digit dialling is used. See information on how to change you dial up settings.

2. Is TELUS Dial-up Service available where I live?

   BC: http://www.mytelus.com/internet/dial/availabilitybc.do
   AB: http://www.mytelus.com/internet/dial/availabilityab.do

3. What is Roaming?

   Roaming is the term used when a TELUS Internet services customer can log onto the Internet outside the TELUS network, using a TELUS Internet services roaming partner. Customers are charged a per-hour rate depending on where and how they log into the network. Usage in this case is not rolled up into their monthly usage included within their Internet plans.

4. What is the TELUS Roaming Wizard?

   This free download installs quickly into any Windows 95/98/NT/2000 machine and maintains a phone book of all the numbers you can use to connect to the Internet on the TELUS Internet services network

5. How do I configure my e-mail client?

   For instructions on how to configure the Netscape Communicator, Mail or Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail clients, check out our Top FAQs on E-mail Problems, in our Help Sectio

6. What is a Domain name?

   In short, a Domain name is an Internet address. Originally, each computer connected to the Internet was identified by an address made up of numbers, called an IP address (Internet Protocol address). For instance, the IP address used by TELUS Internet Services is 198.161.157.143 This numeric system had drawbacks, because although computers recognize numbers easily, humans work better with words. Therefore, a text system of meaningful words was also developed to help humans work with Internet addresses. This word system is called the Domain Name System (DNS), and its development meant that every computer connected to the Internet now had two addresses; one made up of numbers (the IP address), and one made up of words (the Domain name). When an Internet surfer types http://www.telus.net into his/her browser, it gets referenced to the IP address of 198.161.157.143, which begins to set in motion all the things needed to bring the TELUS Internet Services site up on her computer screen. If you type in either the Domain name or the numbered address, you will arrive at the same location.

7. What are the benefits of a Domain name to a Small Business?

   Having a Domain name is an important ingredient for establishing a business presence on the Internet because a Domain name lets a business use its company name as part of its Web site and e-mail addresses. This allows the company to capitalize on name recognition and branding.

   • Domain names are easier to remember and easier to work with than the default personal Web pages and e-mail addresses provided by ISPs. This means that customers, suppliers, and other business contacts are more apt to contact a small business through e-mail or via the company's Web site.
   • Other Internet users, such as customers and suppliers, can view a Domain name and get an indication of its owner's company name and type of business (i.e. commercial or non-profit). This presence on the Internet could be important for establishing relationships with potential customers and suppliers.
   • Domain names are portable. No matter where the small business or home office moves to in Canada or the world, the Domain name can stay the same.
   • Businesses with Domain names look the same on the Internet, regardless of size. This means that, on the Internet, a small upstart company can look just as big as a large company.
   • A Domain name is a company's unique Internet address, and no one else in the world can use it as their own. If establishing a Web presence is important to a business either today or in the future, it is important to secure the company's Domain name before someone else does. A Domain name is more than just an address - it tells the world who you are on the Internet.

8. What is an acceptable Domain name?

   A .com Domain name can contain up to 67 characters including letters, numbers, and hyphens including the 3 or 4 characters used to identify the top level Domain (i.e. .com, .net, .org, or .ca). The "www." before your Domain name is not included in the 67 characters. "www.telus.net" is an example of a Domain name that contains 9 characters. Specific restrictions exist for .ca Domains. See the questions further in this section.

9. What happens to the existing e-mail addresses once a company gets a Domain name?

   An example:

   Name tried to contact all of his customers, contacts, and suppliers to inform them that his e-mail addresses had changed. He was worried that he'd missed some people and that they would still be e-mailing his old address, username@telus.net. When he phoned TELUS Internet services to ask them what to do, the sales representative explained that he could relax. He wouldn't miss any e-mail. TELUS Internet services explained that he could still use his TELUS Internet services e-mail address that he had always possessed. When he added TELUS Internet services Domain Hosting, he would be given additional e-mail boxes like username@telus.net. The only thing having a Domain name does is create an e-mail alias, which is sort of like placing a mask over this new e-mail box. The "mask" sports the new name of Name.Smith@ABC_Company.com, but what is underneath the mask is his new e-mail box username@telus.net. Whether Internet users send messages to this telus.net e-mail box or to the new customized address with the Domain, it all winds up in the same e-mail box for Name to read. When Name signs up to Domain Hosting and chooses a Domain name like www.busname.com, he is also provided with the opportunity to choose aliases like Name.Smith@ABC_Company.com. Name is provided with the necessary information to setup his new telus.net e-mail boxes in his Domain name registration/transfer final confirmation e-mail that he receives following the registration of his Domain name with TELUS Internet services.

10. What are the different types of Domain names?

    Most businesses around the world choose a Domain name ending in .com, which stands for "commercial" and indicates that the business is a for-profit company. Every Domain name has a suffix (i.e. ".com") that indicates which "top-level" Domain it belongs to. Other top-level Domains include .org, .edu, .gov, .mil, and .ca Most top-level Domains are registered through an organization called a Domain Registry. TELUS Internet services uses Tucows Open SRS to register the top-level Domains on behalf of our customers (see chart below).

    Top-Level Domain	Organization Type
    .com	Commercial (for profit) organizations (This is the most common, and most coveted Domain)
    .org	Non-profit organizations
    .net	Network related organizations (i.e. Internet Service Providers like TELUS Internet services)
    .info	Information page for either personal or business

    In addition to these Domains, each country can provide its own geographic Domain name, such as .au for Australia, .us for the United States, .uk for the United Kingdom, and .ca for Canada. In Canada there still exists an organization known as the 'CIRA - Canadian Internet Registration Authority' (www.cira.ca) that manages the .ca Domain and their variations.

    The different types of .ca Domains include the following:

    Domains Available from the CA Domain	Organization Type
    .ca	A Canadian top level domain
    .ab.ca	A Canadian company that operates from Alberta
    .bc.ca	A Canadian company that operates from British Columbia
    .yourmunicipality.ab.ca	A Canadian company that operates from an Alberta municipality only (e.g. edmonton.ab.ca or airdrie.ab.ca)

    One of the rules and regulations of CIRA mandate that applicants must meet certain Canadian Presence Requirements.

    Under the Canadian Presence Requirement for a .ca, a registrant wishing to apply for a .ca must comply with one of the following:

    • Canadian Citizen
    • Permanent Resident
    • Legal Representative
    • Corporation
    • Trust
    • Partnership
    • Association
    • Trade Union
    • Political Party
    • Educational Institution
    • Library, Archive or Museum
    • Hospital
    • Her Majesty the Queen
    • Indian Band
    • Aboriginal Peoples
    • Government
    • Trademark Registered in Canada
    • Official Marks

    CIRA will review each completed application for registration of a Domain Name made by a Registrar on behalf of a Registrant, and decide whether to accept or reject the application in accordance with CIRA's rules and policies of the .ca Domain and sub-domains. Applicants will be served on a first come, first served basis, in accordance with the Registration rules.

    For more information, please visit www.cira.ca.

11. Do I have to own a business to get a Domain name?

    No, you do not have to have your own business to apply for a .com, .org, .info, .net, or .ca Domain.

12. Are there any restrictions for a .ca Domain?

    Yes, you must meet certain CIRA's Rules and Regulations such as: the Canadian Presence Requirements. The rules and regulations are posted at www.cira.ca.

13. What is a subdomain?

    A subdomain is a host name that is added to an existing Domain name. Large organizations often use subdomains, such as in the case of Timex Corporation, which might have www.sales.timex.com as well as www.customerservice.timex.com. The "sales" and "customerservice" portions of the addresses are the subdomains.

    Subdomains are not typically requested by a small business or home office. However, in the rare case that a customer wants a subdomain, TELUS Internet services is able to accommodate them. Simply register your domain (e.g. timex.com) as per the processes outlined in this FAQ and then e-mail domainhosting@telus.net to advise TELUS Internet services that you would like to register a subdomain

14. What does it cost to register a Domain name?

    TELUS charges $30 per year for a new .com, .net, .info or .org domain and $50 per year for a new .ca domain registered with TELUS Internet services.

15. How long does it take to get a new .ca Domain from the Tucows Open SRS?

    It typically takes up to seven business days, although this may vary depending on the amount of orders the Registrar is processing at any given time. TELUS Internet services does not offer any guarantees of turnaround times because this process is within the Domain Registry's control, not TELUS Internet services.

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