- Q: Couldn't we build a
system like LetterMark instead of licensing it from Research Triangle
Software?
A: The question isn't "can you", but "should you".
As our customers have told us, building a system like LetterMark
is not as simple as it appears, because the LetterMark system
and technology incorporates much more than simply embedding html
graphics into email. Several of our customers made the decision
to purchase LetterMark software after attempting to build similar
technology themselves.
Beyond graphically enhanced email, there are several important issues that should be considered, including:
o How will user accounts, template and personal business card information be updated and managed?
o How will the graphics be dynamically served into the email to keep the email "light?"
o How will virtual business cards be delivered?
o How will reply/forward behavior be handled to eliminate stacked graphics?
o How will the email appear to plain text recipients?
o How will plain text recipients be managed?
o How will html emails look if sent internally?
o How will users select different email templates and preview these templates?
o How will the system impact bandwidth and storage requirements?
o Will the system interfere with certain Microsoft Outlook functions like voting buttons?
o Could the system adversely affect documents sent as attachments?
o How will the system function for users who us Microsoft Word as an email editor?
o Will the solution be compatible with a proxy server network configuration?
In short, adding graphics to email is easy. Developing a fully integrated email platform and scaling that solution across even a small business is much more difficult and costly. Research Triangle Software has considered all these scenarios and potential hurdles in the design of the LetterMark system to insure it is a simple, elegant and cost-effective solution.
-
Q: Do we need to change our existing
email system?
A: As long as you are using Microsoft Outlook 98, 2000, 2002
(XP) or 2003 running on Win98, WinNT, WinME, Win2000, or Windows
XP there is no need to change your current email system. Our
software does not alter the routing of your email, or interfere
with your current email infrastructure. The LetterMark software
consists of a thin client that installs on the PC and requires
no changes to your email server.
-
Q: Does LetterMark software slow down
transmission of email?
A: No. LetterMark software does not impact email transmission
because the graphics don't travel within the email message and
the LetterMark system does not re-route your email. A very light
set of html instructions - around 0.5k in most cases - is added
upon sending the email message. Upon opening a LetterMark email,
the text of the email message displays immediately. If you are
connected to the Internet via a typical corporate network, the
interactive LetterMark graphics and business card will display
immediately. Even with a dial-up connection to the Internet,
the LetterMark graphics load quickly as they are typically about
a quarter of the size of most web pages today.
-
Q: Where does the LetterMark
client software install and how do users select email templates?
A: The LetterMark client software installs directly into Microsoft
Outlook. The client software gives the user control over using
LetterMark email including a drop-down menu of all available
LetterMark templates. LetterMark email users select an email
template via this drop-down menu. Users also have the option
to enable / disable the LetterMark Previewer which allow senders
to view the text of their email message framed in the LetterMark
template prior to sending. This preview window also gives users
the ability to select another email template on the fly.
-
Q: What's involved in implementing the
LetterMark software system?
A: There are three basic steps: 1) design the LetterMark templates,
2) select the employees who will use LetterMark email and 3)
install the LetterMark client software. You can design your
own LetterMark email templates using our design specifications
or we can design the templates for you. The LetterMark client
software can be installed via Internet download, from your corporate
LAN or by IT using "silent" install technologies such
as SMS and WinInstall. We then host your LetterMark email templates
and personal contact information in our data center.
-
Q: Is there a security risk posed by
the html content of LetterMark email?
A: No. Most security risks stem from email attachments. The
LetterMark system does not require attachments or embedded scripting
to function.
-
Q: Since LetterMark email
templates are dynamically served into the email each time the
recipient opens the message, what kind of constraints does this
put on network bandwidth?
A: LetterMark email templates are typically 8-12k, which is
why it is often transparent to the recipient that the graphics
are not embedded in the message. A LetterMark email template
is one-fourth to one-third the size of a typical website homepage,
so the LetterMark system has minimal impact on bandwidth.
-
Q: How can we expect
the use of LetterMark to impact our email storage requirements?
A: Since the LetterMark graphics are not embedded in the email
message, no additional storage is needed.
-
Q: Will the LetterMark
email graphics display on a Blackberry or other wireless PDAs
or phones?
A: No, the LetterMark graphics will not display, but the text
of the email message remains intact.
-
Q: What if we are sending
email to some people who we know have email clients that don't
support html?
A: The LetterMark system gives users the option of defining
plain text recipients. A plain text recipient can be defined
as an individual or a domain. Anytime an email is sent to an
individual or domain that is on this plain text recipient list,
the LetterMark system will automatically send the email in plain
text.
-
Q: What if a LetterMark email recipient
is reading an email off-line?
A. The text of the email appears just as it would if the email
had been sent without LetterMark. Unless their email program
is configured to automatically cache html graphics however,
the LetterMark graphics will not display. LetterMark graphics
require a live connection to the Internet, just like a web page,
in order to display. The LetterMark system, however, is configured
to display the users' plain text signature (contact information)
in the absence of the LetterMark digital business card, thereby
displaying your contact information to the recipient regardless
of whether he or she is connected to the Internet.
-
Q: Will it work with
all the different email software programs that our recipients
are likely to use?
A: LetterMark email templates will display in any email program
that is html enabled. About 85% of corporate email software
now supports html. Almost all the current versions of email
software support html. If the recipient does not have html capabilities,
email messages are delivered as normal with the LetterMark template
automatically omitted. Through the LetterMark system, users
can also choose to specify certain users or domains to automatically
be sent plain-text email.
-
Q: How does a LetterMark
email look to a recipient whose email client does not support
html?
A: Unlike traditional html emails where the graphics are embedded
in the message, LetterMark will not display multiple lines of
html gibberish or alter the formatting of the email message.
In addition to the text of the email, plain text recipients
see only two or three URLs that link to the LetterMark image
maps.
-
Q: How do users make
changes to their personal information in LetterMark email templates?
A: LetterMark users can update their personal contact information
by logging into their LetterMark account on the LetterMark.net
management system.
-
Q: Who handles the design of our LetterMark
templates?
A: Research Triangle Software can design your LetterMark email
templates for you or you can use your own internal or external
design resources to create the templates. Your web developer
may be a good choice to complete your design and to coordinate
integration of the LetterMark system with your corporate web
strategy.
-
Q: What if we need to
make changes to the LetterMark email templates or web links?
A: All changes are easily made via LetterMark.net, a web-based
management system for your LetterMark service.
-
Q: When the administrator
updates or adds LetterMark email templates, how do these changes
or additions get deployed to all users on the LetterMark system?
A: New templates or changes to existing templates are automatically
pushed out to all LetterMark users and will appear in the drop-down
menu.
