I'm working on a software app that needs distributed decentralized name resolution, and isn't bound to TCP/IP. Or more precisely, I need to store a "key" and look up it's value, and the key may be a string, a number, or any other realistic data type.

Examples:

1. With a phone number, look up a name. (or with an area code, redirect to the server that handles that exchange)
2. With an IP Address get a DNS name, or a Whois contact (string value)
3. With a string, get an IP, ( like a DNS TXT or SRV record).

I'm thinking out of the box here and looking for any software that allows for this. (more info below)

• Are there any secure, scalable DNS alternatives that have gained notoriety?

I could ask on StackOverflow, but think the infrastructure groups would have better insight on this.

Edit More info:

I'm looking at "Namecoin" the DNS version of Bitcoin, and since that project is faltering, I'm looking at alternative ways to store name-value pairs, with an optional qualifier.

I think a name value pair is of global interest is useful, but on a limited scale. Namecoin tried to be too much, and ended up becoming nothing. I'm trying to solve that problem in researching alternatives and applying distributed technologies where applicable.

Bitcoin/Namecoin offers a Distributed Hash Table, which has some positive aspects, but not useful for DNS, except for root servers.