Is it really email that is just sent out about Canadian Pharmacies? Today, a new article I wrote was posted about this very subject on iMediaConnection http://imediaconnection.com/content/20316.asp

I thought all of you out there would want to know this if you didn't already. The follow excerpt is taken directly from Symantec's website http://www.symantec.com/about/news/release/article.jsp?prid=20080818_02

Symantec expands consumer portfolio to better enable and protect consumers’ digital life

CUPERTINO, Calif. – Aug. 18, 2008 – Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PC Tools, a global provider of innovative software products designed to protect the privacy and security of Windows® computer users. The financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the calendar year and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

With the addition of PC Tools, Symantec will expand its consumer product portfolio to include award-winning PC utilities software and point security technologies. PC Tools will help Symantec expand its reach with consumers in new emerging regional markets and will bring an array of go-to-market capabilities, that have been effective with consumers in many markets around the world.

“We are excited to welcome PC Tools into the Symantec consumer family and believe the combination of our two companies will provide additional value and choice for consumers worldwide to better enable and protect their digital life," said Janice Chaffin, Symantec Group President of Consumer Products. “By adding PC Tools, we build on the market-leading success of Symantec’s consumer offerings and firmly position ourselves for continued incremental growth in a rapidly expanding market."

PC Tools will maintain separate operations within Symantec’s consumer business unit, with Simon Clausen, PC Tools, Chief Executive Officer, leading the team and reporting to Janice Chaffin, Symantec Group President of Consumer Products. PC Tools will continue to offer their products under the PC Tools brand and serve its customers through its existing partners and channels. PC Tools is a privately held company headquartered in Australia, with offices in USA, UK, Ireland and the Ukraine. Their customers are located across the globe and their products are available in more than 196 countries.

I recieved an email today from Roadrunner's security group notifying senders that their feedback loop will be changing.

The key dates for this effort are as follows:

* August 28, 2008, 5PM US/EDT - The existing Road Runner FBL will
be frozen, and no new enrollments or additions to or modifcations
of existing enrollments will be accepted after that time. Reports
will continue to be sent to enrolled parties after that date.

* November 17, 2008 (tentative) - The new Feedback Loop goes live,
and everyone wishing to be part of our feedback loop will have to
re-enroll beginning on that date.

* December 31, 2008 (tentative) - The old Feedback Loop ceases to exist.

Much more information about this migration is available here:

http://postmaster.rr.com/FBL.html

Today it was announced that Return Path has purchased Habeas. While terms of the deal were not disclosed in the announcement, it was stated that both SenderScore Certified and the Habeas Safelist will continue to run as two separate whitelists. Over the last couple of months, there have been a number of rumors as to what would happen to Habeas, as it was widely known that they were up for sale. I believe this new deal makes a lot of sense for Return Path, as they will not only take over Habeas’ customer list, but I imagine that they paid a “fair” price for the company.

So what happens to those Habeas customers that were using their delivery tools such as their seedlist, message preview or even delivery support? Those customers will be migrated over to the Return Path tools and services in the next couple of months so that there will only be one platform supported by the company.

What does this mean for the industry? Well, the first thought is that it reduces the number of well-established accreditation companies from three to two, with only Return Path and GoodMail still in the mix. While there are some other smaller options out there, these two seem to be the most widely used and well known by those that are not just in the deliverability space, but email as a whole. With regards to delivery tools, there are still other companies such as Pivotal Veracity as well. Of course, the next question most people will ask, will the reduction in options increase the prices for what is left, that is something we will have to wait and see on. For now, I think this acquisition makes a lot of sense for Return Path, and I have all the faith in them that they will make a smooth transition for the current customers of Habeas.

Let me know what you think—Do you agree or think I have lost my mind on this—please make sure to add your comments.