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Net Gains (Jan 13, 98) |
Haven't there been times when you wished you could actually
implement the Ram Lakhan hit "One two ka four"
with your email account ? This week, Net Gains looks at new software
that allows you to do just that.
The Postmaster is the first in a suite of Internet software
products developed by Quantum Link Communications - the guys behind
the Miss World 96 and the Magnasound sites. Talking about their
software debut, Sharad Popli from QLC says, "Email is fast
becoming a way of life - everyone will soon have to have an email
id - personal and private - the PostMaster helps it". What
the PostMaster basically does is convert a single VSNL account
into 5, or 10 or 25 100, or unlimited individual, private accounts.
So, if a company has an account with VSNL, say [email protected],
the PostMaster would allow them to create separate accounts for
separate departments - finance, marketing, sales, hrd … Or
if they feel the need, they could create separate accounts for
each and every employee too ! Colleges could provide email accounts
for each and every student, or on the family front, everyone could
get their own mailbox !
One attractive feature of the PostMaster is that it centralises
and even automates sending and receiving email. As far as each
user is concerned, the entire process is transparent - they can
continue sending email just like before, using their favourite
email client - be it Netscape, Microsoft Mail, Eudora or whatever.
All email is sent to the computer with PostMaster on it, and is
sent out at pre-determined intervals when the PostMaster automatically
logs in to the ISP and sends and receives email. The email that
is downloaded by the PostMaster is automatically sorted out to
different users email boxes that are password protected. This
ensures that only one person (typically the administrator) would
need to know the password of the VSNL Internet account, cutting
down on the ever-so-prevalent misuse of corporate Internet accounts.
Besides with the PostMaster, the common frustration of trying
and retrying logging in no longer exists - it's automatically
done at predetermined intervals.
Among other features of the PostMaster is the ability to collect
email from multiple email accounts - a godsend for companies with
more than one email account. Using the PostMaster is very intuitive
- the administrator can even keep tabs on the amount and size
of email sent and received by each user with just a few clicks
of the mouse (to check misuse).
To run the PostMaster, you'd need a Pentium with minimum 16
Mb RAM, a modem and a TCP/IP account. QLC has put up a shareware
version that can be downloaded from the Net at http://www.qlc.co.in/.
QLC currently has an introductory offer - for just Rs. 9500, a
company can get a 25-user version of the PostMaster. For additional
details and ordering information contact QuantumLink Communications
( Tel: +91-22-4970681/2, Fax: +91-22-4931584, E-mail : [email protected]
)
On the events front, the Second Annual Internet Summit is a four day event, comprising of tutorials and a conference, scheduled to be held at Mumbai from 14th to 17th January 1998. The Summit is split into two days of technical tutorials and two days of conferences. There are six tutorials planned, each of half day duration, largely technical in nature. The conference will feature four sessions, each with two or three distinguished speakers and a panel discussion. Each session will focus on one topic, and will cover both the local issues as well as the international perspective.
Full details about the Summit can be obtained from the Summit
homepage at http://www.homeindia.com/summit2/ Those interested
could also get in touch directly with Mr. Bhavin Kadakia, Head-IT
(Indian Merchants' Chamber) at 2851645 for any clarifications.
If you haven't already, enter the Net Gains Online Contest at
my website - time's running out !