[wibblenut]

Privacy is achieved by encrypting records (1024-bit RSA, PKCS#1.5) and storing them using a sub-domain label known only to the counterpart (your friend). Keys are brokered by a service called TelFriends, and this is the only element of the system that's centralised. However, you only ever use it to make new friends, as your client is supposed to cache keys.

Of course, all of this complexity is hidden behind a pretty interface, so users don't have to worry :)

As for the dig command, perhaps your resolver (DSL router?) is buggy? Try Google's:

$ dig @8.8.8.8 andy.tel naptr (or 'txt' for my text records, and 'loc' for my location).

Hit me up on http://messaging.andy.tel if you want to chat about anything in more detail.