Mailblocks
Launches Service Optimized for Macintosh OS X
[27th October 2003]
LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA—October, 27, 2003—Coinciding
with the annual Mac OS X Conference, which gets underway
today, Mailblocks, Inc. announced availability of the
final release of its spam-free, Web-based email service
optimized for the Macintosh OS X platform. Effective
immediately, Mailblocks is available to support consumers
using the Safari browser, and the Apple Mail and Microsoft
Entourage X desktop email clients.
Mailblocks brings a new class of Web-based consumer
email to the Macintosh OS X platform. Incorporating
its patented Challenge/Response technology, Mailblocks’
new release delivers the most effective method available
for fighting spam, while making consumer email a safe
harbor for online communications.
“Macintosh customers include some of the most
creative computer users in the world – those who
embrace new innovations that improve the computing experience,”
said Phil Goldman, Mailblocks’ CEO. "We were
pleased by the number of consumers who took part in
this summer’s free trial of the Macintosh service,
and we used the insight and feedback that they provided
to fine-tune the final product. We remain committed
to delivering a better, faster and easier consumer email
experience for all computer users that effectively frees
them of unwanted spam.” Mailblocks provides a
powerful combination of features and capabilities, including:
- Email
access from a super-fast, application-like Web interface
or through desktop clients like Entourage X or Apple’s
Mail application.
- Consolidation
and management of existing Yahoo! Mail, AOL, MSN,
Hotmail and POP3 accounts into one universal inbox
– where spam gets cleansed and custom domain
addressing allows users to choose the “return
address” from which they want to send email.
- Larger storage and attachments –
12MB-standard and 50MB optional storage combined with
6MB attachment allowances, enables users to send and
store large files, such as music and photos.
Superior
Challenge/Response Service
As a category, Challenge/Response has emerged as the
most effective technology for consumers to combat spam.
According to a new report by The Tolly Group, an independent
testing and strategic consulting organization, Challenge/Response
technology is more effective than Filtering technology
in combating spam without adversely affecting the delivery
of legitimate email messages. (The full Tolly Group
report is available by clicking here.)
Unlike filters, which often throw out
the good mail with the bad – known as “false
positives,” Challenge/Response does not automatically
delete a user’s email. With Challenge/Response,
all messages sent by known recipients in a user’s
address list are placed in their inbox, while messages
from unrecognized senders are held in a Pending folder
and automatically sent a request to authenticate (called
a Challenge). Machine-generated email cannot reply to
Challenge messages, so the only email users see is from
recognized correspondents or new contacts that respond
to the Challenge message.
In a separate study, The Tolly Group
concluded that Mailblocks demonstrates clear leadership
among Challenge/Response vendors in both features and
functionality, setting it apart from the competition.
(The full Tolly Group report on Challenge/Response effectiveness
is available at www.tolly.com.) In addition to its Consolidated
Email functionality, other key features that differentiate
Mailblocks service are:
- Trackers
– Disposable aliases or extra email addresses,
which can be set up and used for legitimate computer-generated,
opt-in email (e.g., shopping, travel or auction sites).
- Safe
Sender Status – Once a sender responds to a
Challenge, the individual has ”safe-sender”
status and may freely exchange messages across the
network without being challenged again, unless they
begin sending email at high frequencies or email with
questionable language/images.
- Customized Challenge Messages –
Users may personalize the contents of their Challenge
messages.
Complimentary
One Call Setup
Pricing for Mailblocks’ new Macintosh OS X service
is $9.95 per year with 12MB of storage and an Expanded
Service with 50MB of storage for $24.95. Both offer
attachment allowances of 6MB. Consumers can subscribe
or sign up for a free trial at http://macusers.mailblocks.com.
Mailblocks is also offering Mac users who buy a 50MB
account an opportunity to try its complimentary One
Call Setup. This service provides new customers with
easy access to a live support representative who can
walk them through the set-up process in one simple phone
call.
About
Mailblocks
Mailblocks, Inc. is a new class of Web-based email service
for consumers. Founded in July 2002 by Phil Goldman,
a former Microsoft executive and a founder of WebTV,
Mailblocks started with a simple idea: improve the consumer
email experience—make it better, more manageable
and—above all else—free from the aggravation
of spam. Using state-of-the-art technology, an assemblage
of talented, passionate and experienced individuals
and a customer research driven development model, Mailblocks
is dedicated to helping people restore and fulfill the
true potential of email communication. To learn more
about Mailblocks visit our Web site at www.mailblocks.com
or contact pr@mailblocks.com.
For More Information:
Krause Taylor Associates for Mailblocks
Betty Taylor
(408) 918-9082
bettyt@krause-taylor.com
or
Jennifer Edsell
(408) 918-9085
jennifer@krause-taylor.com |
