Page 1 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Network Based Personal Information and Messaging Services Urs Muller Beat Flepp Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Keyport, NJ, USA FDIS San Francisco August 12–13, 2002

Page 2 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Outline 1.Complexity of Today’s Messaging Reality 2.Solution: Separation of Messaging and Access Infrastructure 3.Steps for Realizing the Solution 4.Economics of the Solution 5.Concluding Remarks

Page 3 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. 1.Complexity of Today’s Messaging Reality

Page 4 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Mailboxes –Company –Personal –Dedicated for mailing lists and newsgroups Voic –Company –Mobile –Home Fax –Delivered as

Page 5 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Unified Messaging/Communication Does not solve the problem of multiple mailboxes Multiple mailboxes are here for a reason –Separated for different purposes (e.g., home and work) –Separated because of multiple service providers involved (e.g., office and mobile voic )

Page 6 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. “Explosion” of Access Devices Multiple PCs –Work, home, notebook Web browsers –PC, Internet café, Web kiosk Handheld devices –Pocket PC, Palm, BlackBerry Mobile Phones –Various generations of WAP Phones

Page 7 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Reasons for Continuously Using Different Access Devices Buying a new PC or laptop Travel –Internet cafés and Web kiosks –Using a guest office or a friend’s PC Broken, stolen, or shared laptop

Page 8 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Data Storages Involved Network message store (often limited space) Local message store User profile  Mailbox credentials  Address book  Signatures  User settings Network sideClient side Message server Message client Storage layer

Page 9 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Main Problem The existence of multiple message servers and multiple message clients leads to a fragmentation of message and user profile data that is hard to manage.

Page 10 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. 2.Solution: Separation of Messaging and Access Infrastructure

Page 11 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Separation of Messaging and Access Infrastructure server(s) Address Books/ Directories Message Access Server Voic server(s) VoiceXML Server User Profile

Page 12 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. AT&T WorldNet: Message Center

Page 13 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Properties Access to all message types and mailboxes from almost any device Single ID and password for multiple mailboxes No installation nor configuration required  Drawback: User Profile proprietary and not accessible through the network

Page 14 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. User Profile in the Network User Profile Server User Profile e.g., cache Message client 1.Client retrieves user’s mailbox information from profile server in the network. 2.Client contacts all message servers. Message server 1 Message server 2

Page 15 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Extensibility of the Concept All types of message clients –PC based and Web based Other services and features –Address books and directories –Network file storage –Calendar, to-do lists, notes –Collaboration tools (shared address books, shared folders, web publishing) Agents –Message filtering, prioritizing –Auto filing, aging –Self learning junk mail filters –Deferring of messages to a later date

Page 16 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Extended Service Opportunities User profile Message server(s) Calendar server(s) File storage Web server(s) Web Interface 1 Web browsers  PC  Internet café, kiosk  Pocket PC  Palm  WAP Phone  Blackberry Client software  PC  Pocket PC  Palm  Blackberry ... Web Interface 2 Agents Address Books/ Directories

Page 17 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Data Stored in a Network User Profile Mailbox access information and login credentials ( , voic ) Address book: either directly or as a pointer to external address book(s) and other settings (e.g., signatures) Pointers and credentials for other resources, e.g., click-to-dial

Page 18 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Example of a Web Client UI

Page 19 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. 3.Steps for Realizing the Solution  Definition of open specifications (standard) for user profile database  Implementation and deployment of a model service

Page 20 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Open Specifications (Standard) Access protocol(s) Data fields Interface for extensions (experimental and proprietary)

Page 21 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Model Service Good implementation (reliable, fast, useful features) Large and economical network-based message store ( server that is optimized for large mailbox size) Secure access method (encryption and onetime passwords) Secure message exchange IMAP4 front-end that maps mailboxes to folders (as a way to use old PC clients)

Page 22 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Overview of Model Service servers Directories Large e- mail store User profile Web Interface IMAP4 Interface Address book Web browsers Local clients LDAP IMAP4 HTTP LDAP IMAP4

Page 23 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Possible Obstacles Trust for storing user passwords in the network End to end security Trust for storing user’s private encryption key in the network (for supporting message encryption) Trust for secure access to network profile (e.g., onetime passwords)

Page 24 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. 4.Economics of the Solution

Page 25 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Advantages to End Users Single ID and password to access multiple resources Dramatically reduced complexity for configuring PC based mail clients Consistent user settings available from all clients (vendor independent) Easy to block access to all accounts by changing a single password (the network profile password)

Page 26 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Advantages to Vendors and Service Providers Easier to make alternative clients popular (Palm, Pocket PC) Easier to sell services at Internet Cafés, Web kiosks, WebTV, and Hotel TV Internet access Reduced customer care cost for PC based clients Increased usage of messaging services increases network usage, e.g., –Mobile phones –Hotel services, including sending messages and click- to-dial

Page 27 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Low Cost Market Introduction (about 10,000 users) 2–4 Linux servers Sufficient disk space Commercial software: LDAP server, IMAP4 server, Web server Custom software: Web interface, IMAP4 interface Small amount of space in a data center (space, power, backup service, Internet access, and service monitoring) Limited customer care and billing infrastructure Target market: small businesses and home offices

Page 28 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. 5.Concluding Remarks

Page 29 of 29 Net-Scale Technologies, Inc. Concluding Remarks Today’s complexity of message access is overwhelming for many users A network user profile –dramatically reduces this complexity and –provides opportunities for many new services (e.g., agents) A strategy for a low cost market introduction and acceptance exists