Providing Spam Control for todays email users has become a challenge for even the largest of technology companies. Microsofts recent announcement about a Caller ID for email is yet another attempt to try on dominate a market.

It would appear to me that they have left out one critical component in their proposal for creating the equivelent of the caller ID for email.
The USER themselves. Bottom line is that only the user really knows what is and is not spam.

Proper Spam Control requires some user participation. Funny thing about this new proposal is that it is way behind the times. For example, Mailbox Filters SMART ID system has a built in email ID that a user can activate at anytime.

By using the SMART ID a Mailbox Filter user can instantly assign a PRIVATE KEY to any authorized email address. This private key is a special code that combines the senders data with the registered user of Mailbox Filter data. The sender is sent that code to cut and paste in their email address book. That is all that is required.

This approach gives the users total control of their email system. It is a lock down approach. The idea to get an industry wide standard established is a good one. However, in light of Microsofts history of market dominance, one has to be cautious about the total intentions of their efforts.

The jury is still out on this one. Suffice it to say that Mailbox Filter has, from day one, always had SMART ID, years ahead of others. While Server Side solutions are important and needed, to eliminate the users needs from this equation will only continue the loss of good email.

Only time will tell.

Sincerely,

Robert Jensen

Your Spam Control Advisor