United Messaging Announces Message Control Upgrade to Address Heightened Security and Privacy Needs of Enterprises.

Business/Technology Editors

WEST CHESTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2000

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United Messaging, Inc., the leading enterprise messaging application service provider (ASP), today announced an upgrade of its Message Control service for maintaining the security of enterprise e-mail systems, in addition to an expanded array of consulting services in the area of privacy policy. Compatible with all messaging platforms that support Simple Message Transfer Protocol (SMTP), including Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange, Message Control provides the latest in network e-mail security and privacy through new virus detection, attachment scrubbing, and anti-spam filtering devices that help curb bulk or inappropriate e-mail as well as possible corporate espionage or privacy infractions. New consulting capabilities to assist corporations in creating and managing privacy and communications policy are also available to complement the enhanced service.

New features of the industry leading service include:

-- The Mail Abuse Prevention System (MAPS) Relay Spam Stopper (RSS) list has been added as an additional option to the existing MAPS RealTime Blackhole List (RBL) and Dial-up Users List (DUL), for managing and blocking suspected unsolicited e-mail, or spam.

-- Updated general purpose filters, supporting both compound and reverse criteria, providing greater ability to search for suspicious message content and simplifying the task of enforcing corporate e-mail policies.

-- New filter activity and virus detection logs e-mailed nightly to customer administrators, providing timely information regarding all messaging activity in their systems.

-- Administration utility access and configuration changes secured using SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption.

-- New support for LDAP-compliant directories to check inbound messages for valid recipients, thereby reducing the traffic and bandwidth consumed by undeliverable e-mail messages.

-- New address translation filters that enable customers to redirect inbound and outbound messages to different e-mail addresses, simplifying system migration or corporate reorganization.

"With the proliferation of e-mail viruses and the new Notice of Electronic Monitoring Act pending now before Congress, we continue to aggressively enhance our security and policy services to insure that our clients' enterprise e-mail systems are safe from hackers and from the threat of corporate privacy infractions," said Robert F. Jones, president and chief executive officer of United Messaging. "Organizations need to adopt security solutions and privacy policies that respond to both emerging technological and legislative developments. Message Control and United Messaging's accompanying consulting services will provide the most reliable and readily implementable electronic messaging solutions for our enterprise customers."

For some companies, e-mail has been the key to a Pandora's box, opening the door to the darkest and most guarded secrets of corporate America. Protecting sensitive corporate information from outsiders and determining whether employees are engaged in unlawful and harmful acts online pose urgent challenges for employers. The strongest protection for corporate e-mail is a combination of both high technology and sound policy procedures. The security upgrades in Message Control are supported by an expansion of the consulting services offered by United Messaging, to help clients formulate comprehensive, well-written e-mail usage and security policies and to protect against employer liability.

"Message Control helps us protect our proprietary data, as well as monitor questionable content across all our offices," said Howard Pearce, Corporate IT Director, Oxford Global Resources, Inc. "Outsourcing our messaging functions to United Messaging was a decision of strategic importance, and we are continuously impressed with their capabilities, professionalism, and expertise."

Senior Research Analyst Maurene Caplan Grey of Gartner Group added: "Companies can benefit from the counsel of e-mail policy consultants to explain the latest in messaging policy and how to navigate the complex privacy issues affecting employers today."

About United Messaging

United Messaging is a messaging application service provider that delivers hosted e-mail and collaboration services to medium and large-sized business enterprises worldwide. The company leverages world-class people, processes, and technologies to provide hosted Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes/Domino, and Internet messaging applications. United Messaging's unique combination of hosted, professional, and support services maximizes corporate messaging performance, reliability, and security.

Headquartered in West Chester, PA with facilities across the U.S. and in Europe, United Messaging is an Internet Capital Group Partner Company (NASDAQ:ICGE) and a business partner of EMC2, Exodus, IBM, iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, Lotus, Microsoft, Motient Corporation, Network Appliance, and Sun Microsystems. Additional information may be found at www.unitedmessaging.com or call [phone].