Webmail receives new look, features

A familiar friend has a new look as University Information Technology Services at IU is putting the final touches on a new Webmail. Feedback from users who wanted a more graphical and intuitive setting for reading their mail prompted the UITS messaging team to begin searching for a new client last fall. Now the fruit of its efforts is available for IU students to try. \nThe current Webmail client will be phased out this summer to make room for the new look.\nThe new program features a two-paneled, white and crimson-colored border for reading mail, much like a school-spirited Outlook Express. E-mail messages can be marked as new, seen, answered or important, and the user's quota (how much mail they can store in their account) appears at the top of the screen so students will no longer be surprised when they exceed their limit.\nPersonal information, mail management preferences and other options are found in the bottom of the split-screen display, while the folder being viewed lists messages in the top. Icons replace text for buttons like Help, Folders and Address Book, and there is a new Undelete option so mistakenly deleted emails can be retrieved.\nBrian D. Voss, Associate Vice President of Telecommunications, said the test program is a reflection of the growing number of fast connection speeds on and around campus. Users are able to more easily get graphics-rich pages and have expressed a desire for a more detailed look.\nVoss said the testing process for the new design is similar to the process UITS went through when instituting the current Webmail system, except this time the change is more gradual than the switch from Pine, a text-based interface, to the now Web-based system.\n"It's less revolutionary, more evolutionary," Voss said.\nBeginning this spring, those who use IU Webmail can sign up to test the new program. UITS hopes to establish a dialogue that will lead to the most comfortable interface for everyone. Those trying out the new Webmail are encouraged to send their comments and suggestions to UITS before the pilot period is over.\nGreg Moore, UITS Communication Specialist, says people can still use old Webmail even while trying out the new interface.\n"They're just different applications that do the same thing," Moore said. "The testing period is for people to shake out any potential bugs and see if there's anything missing."\nUITS had hoped to test the new interface earlier, but got hung up on browser and configuration issues. Now, depending on user response, the current Webmail could be replaced as soon as this coming fall, Voss said. \nIU senior J.D. Short tinkered with the new Webmail and likes the look. \n"I think it'll be a marked improvement on the system as a whole," Short said. Although Short will graduate before the changes are permanent, he appreciates the effort from UITS. "It's nice to see that IU is forward-looking and progressive when it comes to technology," he said.\nBesides making e-mail easier to use, another goal of the project is to integrate Webmail into IU's OneStart program, IU's new universal web portal (https://onestart.iu.edu/my/Start.do). When a user logs into OneStart, he or she will be simultaneously logged into his or her e-mail, Moore said.\nUITS unveiled the pilot program in its newsletter, the Monitor, sent out on April 16. To try the new interface, interested parties can go to https://webmail.iu.edu/register/.\nMoore said he is positive about the program.\n"My suspicion is that people are going to like this client a lot better," he said.