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New Email Suppression Solution Alleviates CAN-SPAM Compliance and Data Privacy Pains for Advertisers, Publishers, and Affiliates Integrated with IronPort and Web site Certified by TRUSTe, UnsubCentral Provides a Secure Solution that Spans Internal Systems as well as Multiple Service Providers March 2, 2004 - Austin, TX - Under the CAN-SPAM Act, advertisers utilizing email to distribute commercial messages are now obligated to manage unsubscribe requirements across all affiliates and sales channels. This is a potentially daunting task requiring security and data-privacy safeguards for creating a centralized suppression list, providing suppression lists to affiliates, and updating suppression lists with new opt-out requests. Today, SKYLIST, a leading provider of email marketing solutions and Email Service Provider Coalition steering committee member, announced a spin-off company UnsubCentral, Inc. whose bonded email suppression service ensures CAN-SPAM compliance while protecting data privacy policies. "Under CAN-SPAM, advertisers are now responsible for creating a centralized suppression list, providing suppression lists to affiliates, updating suppression lists with new opt-out requests--while maintaining data privacy and security," said Joshua Baer, interim CEO and creator of UnsubCentral. "We quickly realized that a bonded, third-party entity must be established for the general good of the industry. By providing a secure environment with audit and fraud detection for managing opt-out lists across sales channels and third parties, UnsubCentral is a cost-effective solution for companies seeking to outsource to a compliance partner." IronPort Integration Speeds and Simplifies Adoption "To complicate an already complicated matter, CAN-SPAM requirements do not apply simply to bulk mail - but to all commercial email messages including viral marketing programs, in-house newsletters, auction notifications, online communities and sites with Forward-to-Friend functionality," explained Baer. "This affects dozens of marketing programs within a given company and has the potential to be a data-privacy and compliance nightmare." UnsubCentral has fully integrated with the IronPort family of appliances. IronPort Gateway appliances are deployed at 7 of the top 10 email marketing service providers, as well as 10 of the largest corporations in the world. For corporations that support a global brand, UnsubCentral integrated into IronPort can ensure that suppression lists are enforced across multiple email marketing service providers as well as across a complex global network of internal systems. This provides the marketer with a unique solution that can effectively span internal databases, CRM systems, employee generated mail, as well as multiple different email marketing service bureaus. "Global brands have very large scale marketing programs that can span across a variety of internal CRM systems, external list brokers and email marketing service providers," said Tom Gillis, SVP of Marketing at IronPort Systems. "The IronPort appliances have been rapidly adopted by Global 2000 Companies as well as leading email service providers. Integrating UnsubCentral into the IronPort brings the global reach to the suppression list that major brands need." In addition to the strategic alliance with IronPort, the UnsubCentral Web site has been certified by TRUSTe, which will also review the unsubscribe processes and data handling practices. UnsubCentral has also initiated the creation of an advisory committee comprised of the most influential and experienced representatives from email service providers, trade associations, major advertisers, and privacy, regulatory, and legal professionals. "TRUSTe has identified the unsubscribe process as a consumer and business pain point, and we'd like to elevate the solutions we think are following best practices, so both consumers and businesses can benefit," said Fran Maier, executive director of TRUSTe. "We can help UnsubCentral ensure they are implementing appropriate safeguards and setting standards beyond the high water mark they have in place today." "Unlike many of the 'CAN-SPAM-bulance' chasers we've seen arise this year, I felt it was imperative to delay a public announcement until we created a bonded independent entity, developed a strategic alliance with IronPort, initiated a certification program with TRUSTe and aligned with affiliate networks and Email Service Provider leaders," said Baer. Secure and Cost Effective Outsourcing a Viable Option TKL Interactive, who helps big businesses effectively integrate email marketing into long term marketing strategies, sees the benefit of outsourcing. "As a stringent proponent of opt-in email practices and associated consumer privacy protection, we chose to align our technology and our customers with UnsubCentral's Web-based solution for opt-out compliance due to their superior technology -- most specifically with regards to flexibility of data platform import/export, ease-of-use, and security at the user level and data protection level," said Sherry Jones, VP of Sales and Marketing, TKL Interactive. For pricing information and to request a demo of UnsubCentral, please visit www.unsubcentral.com or email sales@unsubcentral.com. About IronPort Systems: About SKYLIST: About TRUSTe: About UnsubCentral: Media Contacts Matt Sullivan Liz Landis |
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