GroupMail 5.1 from Infacta Ltd
By Howard Berenbon
In August 2005 I reviewed GroupMail 5 from Infacta, Ltd in Ireland, which happens to be one of the best Windows-based bulk mail managing programs available, originally published as a freeware program called Aureate Group Mail (reviewed in April 2000). Now, I want to update you on the newest version, GroupMail 5.1 Business Edition, with its latest and greatest features and options.
They still offer their free GroupMail program you can download and use. It’s completely functioning, but you’re limited to sending e-mail to a maximum of 100 recipients at one time, you can only send through a single e-mail connection and you have limited address book import capabilities. If you operate a business, or manage large groups for personal use then you’ll want to upgrade to either their Personal Edition which sells for only $99.95, or their Business Edition for $249.95. One difference between the Personal Edition and Business Edition is the speed of sending your e-mail. The Business Edition uses 256 delivery connections making it about 100 times faster then the Personal Edition.
Group Mail 5.1 Features (not available in free version*)
Send highly formatted messages personalized for each of your recipients
Manage an unlimited number of customizable groups (mailing lists) with an unlimited number of recipients
Run and maintain CAN-SPAM compliant Newsletters with automated subscription, removal and filtering support *
Keep valuable recipient details private and secure *
Handle bounces automatically and easily verify recipients *
Send messages directly your desktop, or through a dedicated e-mail server using multiple connections *
Send personalized wireless mobile SMS text messages to recipients using our unique free Email to SMS gateway tool *
Prepare and schedule messages for delivery any time in the future
Fully control and target your mailings with filters, in-line message scripting, reply management controls, customizable headers and in-depth logging & reporting *
Work with existing customer lists in almost any format
Easily send follow-up mailings *
Access to all send reports and logs
Easily resume from send failures
GroupMail 5.1 Freeware
The freeware version allows a single connection sending only, with limited address book importing and 100 maximum recipients at one time. This version doesn’t allow Add-ons.
GroupMail 5.1 Personal Edition
For just $99.95, the Personal Edition allows groups of any size and is much faster than the freeware version because of multiple connections. And you can send messages direct to your recipients without the need of an SMTP server. You can import and export in a variety of database format (Outlook Express, Eudora, Opera, AOL, Netscape address books and distribution lists, including to and from your e-mail exclusion list. It also allows access to several free downloadable Add ons to help you manage and maintain your groups automatically. They include processing and updating Double Opt-In, Opt-In and Opt-Out requests, send auto-response messages, remove bounced messages and recipients, delete messages and unwanted e-mails from your inbox, call database stored procedures and display a detailed report on all your group e-mail actions.
GroupMail 5.1 Business Edition
The Business Edition includes all the features in the Personal Edition (including the Add-ons), but with more features and faster. It allows you to send large mailings very quickly, using up to 256 delivery connections (about 100 times faster than the Personal Edition). You can import Outlook, Group Wise, Lotus Notes, Exchange and Pine address books and distribution lists and offers Database Direct Linking & Importing (ADO/OLEDB/ODBC), Scheduling, Queuing, Background sending, MS Outlook Integration, routing, XML document support and more.
After you run the program, a main menu screen will appear. It offers three ways to access your groups: from the top and left side navigation buttons, and at the center of the screen. Your first task will be to set up your account, accessible under the Tools menu. Under Account Properties and User Information you’ll
enter your account name and e-mail address and under Delivery Options enter your SMPT server name. Next, under setup, enter your e-mail authentication settings, and that’s about it. Now you’re ready to create your group and enter or import data. Finally, you’ll create your letter, and then send it to your recipients with one click of the mouse.
Here’s a list of the menu options:
Messages
Create a New Message
Review Sent Items
Use a Template
Groups
Create a New Group
Search Groups
Import Recipients
Scheduler
Managed Scheduled Events
Tools
Accounts
Exclusion List
Database Connections
Web Services
Add-ons
Message Related Options
About
Help
Check for Updates
GroupMail 5.1 is a full-featured, professionally written, group mail program that works great with lots of features and function. You can personalize and merge individual information into any message, send personalized messages to each of your recipients, check your spelling, import and export information and even add plug-ins that will automate functions like subscribing and unsubscribing recipients and processing bounced mail. You can also copy, move, merge and purge recipients between Groups, send HTML (rich) formatted messages and images, filter your groups and more. It's fast and easy to import records from a number of sources. Just specify the criteria, and it quickly imports the type of records you’re looking for. If you need to manage any mailing list, download the free GroupMail 5.1 and start managing. When you register the program for $99.95, you'll get all the latest features and Add-ons, free updates and full expert technical support. And, with the Professional Edition for $249.95, you’ll get a lot more features and a faster mail delivery engine (about 100 times faster). Since the price hasn't gone up since my last review in 2005, you're really getting the new and improved version for less. For more information visit Infacta at infacta.com.
Howard Berenbon
Software Companies Mentioned
Infacta Ltd, Worldwide
1st Floor
Cleveragh Office & Retail Park
Cleveragh, Sligo
Ireland
Phone: +353 71 9156996
Fax: +353 71 9156997
