Goodmail Launches E-mail Proof-of-Delivery Service

E-mail certification firm Goodmail Systems yesterday announced a new service that allows businesses such as insurance firms, financial institutions and healthcare companies to have proof electronic messages were delivered.

Dubbed CertifiedEmail Paper Suppression, or CertifiedEmail PS, the service constitutes legal proof messages such as changes to credit terms, billing policies or delinquency notices have been served, according to Goodmail.

“With CertifiedEmail Paper Suppression, a consumer can’t say: ‘I never got that e-mail,’” said David Atlas, senior vice president, Goodmail.

Using CertifiedEmail PS can also help financial institutions comply with regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, according to the company.

The service costs 3 cents a message.

“There are certain types of communications where typically you have to go paper because only paper has that reliability that meets regulatory compliance,” said Atlas. “CertifiedEmail Paper Suppression actually meets those regulatory needs, so things that would go out at a dollar a statement can now go out for 3 cents.”

Of course the service is good for addresses only at inbox providers who support Goodmail’s CertifiedEmail.

Under CertifiedEmail, bulk mailers agree to have their sending practices vetted in order to get certified as a non-spammer. Those who pass scrutiny pay a fee to ensure their e-mail gets delivered to participating ISPs’ inboxes with their graphics and links intact.

Atlas said companies don’t have to be CertifiedEmail customers to buy CertifiedEmail PS, but the process to gain accreditation is the same.

AOL and Yahoo are currently the two providers that have implemented Goodmail CertifiedEmail.

Cox, Comcast, Roadrunner, Time Warner and Verizon will implement CertifiedEmail within the next three months, he added.