DigiPortal's Challenge-Response Anti-Spam Solution ChoiceMail One Supports Visually-Disabled Computer Users

Visually-Disabled Users Can Respond to Challenge/Response Anti-Spam systems

Orlando, FLA – July 28, 2003 – DigiPortal Software, Inc., a leading developer of information management tools designed to provide users with powerful solutions to combat information overload and inappropriate Internet content, today announced that its leading flagship anti-spam software solution ChoiceMail One, now offers a feature that will allow the visually-disabled community to respond to challenges generated by ChoiceMail One.

A major barrier for visually-disabled users on the Internet today is caused by a graphical code used to verify that there is a real user on the other end, rather than a type of automation doing the email verification. Graphics pose problems for blind computer users who may rely on screen reading technology, which is not able to decipher what the graphic says.

DigiPortal's ChoiceMail One's advanced features overcomes this barrier. When a ChoiceMail One user receives an email from an unknown sender and responds by sending a challenge back to the sender, it is necessary for the sender to verify their identity by typing in their name, a short description of why they want to communicate and to copy a graphic code to ensure the sender is a real person rather than a computer. DigiPortal has extended this very simple and quick process to the visually-disabled community, by adding a feature that allows blind users to access this code by downloading an audio wav file that reads the code aloud to them. They can then type this information into the box, allowing them to verify the code independently.

"I believe that challenge response anti-spam technology is a misunderstood technology," said Dan Roy, a visually-disabled ChoiceMail One user. "For an average user who is trying to get email from a number of sources, their system works extremely well. I got incredibly tired of 75% of my email being junk mail; since I started using ChoiceMail One, my spam has disappeared."

There are other companies who use the randomized graphical code for verification purposes, however, many have not done anything to accommodate blind users.

Dr. David Jameson, CTO & Founder of DigiPortal has had significant experience working with the visually disabled computing community while involved in a research project to build a state of the art system to allow that community to access computers. Along with Dr. James Thatcher who originally conceived of that project, they invented IBM's Screen Reader product, which was released in 1987. Screen Reader allowed the visually-disabled user to have unprecedented access to their PC using a special keypad that was programmable in a language created by Jameson to make it easy for blind users to express actions needed in order to work on a PC productively.
PC users can download a free trial of ChoiceMail One by visiting the DigiPortal website at www.digiportal.com.

About DigiPortal Software, Inc.
ChoiceMail One joins DigiPortal’s arsenal of information management tools designed to provide today’s end users with powerful aids in fighting information overload and inappropriate Internet content. ChoiceMail One, America’s most effective tool for fighting spam, is currently available for $39.95. For more information on ChoiceMail One, to view animated tutorials and other screenshots, to download our free trial version and to purchase a copy, consumers can visit www.digiportal.com

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Press at DigiPortal Software