UITS unveils new Webmail system

University Information Technology Services unveiled a plan Monday to replace the University's current Webmail services with an improved version -- and users only had to log on to find out.\nA notice appearing above the log-in feature of the IU Webmail page informed users of the change to come and the opportunity they have to test it.\nThe switch is the second part of a planned upgrade in place to maintain updated hardware for IU users, said Rick Jackson, manager of University Information Technology Services messaging department. \nPhase one of the upgrade -- which replaced the servers that stored mail -- was in place by this spring. Phase two will replace the hardware users access to connect to their mailboxes and will be upgrading material that is six years old. \n"This (upgrade) is part of normal life cycle replacement of hardware. The planning has been ongoing since we implemented Webmail and will continue after we finish this hardware upgrade," Jackson said.\nThe services of the new Webmail will be almost identical, but there will be a few added highlights based on user-feedback received in the past. Updated processes such as attaching documents to Web-messages with one click as well as easier cancellation of vacation messages are improved features, Jackson said. \nThe Web-based forwarding and filtering system, designed to forward messages as well as monitor messages possibly containing viruses, are now fully integrated into the Webmail's components. \nTo test the new service, UITS is requesting volunteers to use and evaluate the new Webmail -- a piloting phase set to begin the first week of November. Potential volunteers can sign up for the testing period through a link provided at the top of the Webmail log-in page -- an opportunity Jackson hopes users will take advantage of.\n"We had around 2,000 people sign up in the first day," Jackson said. "But we would like to have around 10,000 people sign up for the pilot." \nVolunteers will find all of their mail in its familiar place without having to move it and are also able to back out of the process at anytime. Testing will run until the end of the semester, at which time the entire University will make the move over to the new Webmail program. Although the move is large, complications to users are projected to be minimal. \n"(Users) may not be used to the improved response times we expect, but I doubt that people will have any difficulty getting used to that," Jackson said. \nFor more information on becoming a volunteer tester, access the current log-in page of IU Webmail and follow the link provided.