IAR Bits and Bytes

Sunbelt Software Rolls Out IHateSpam for Enterprises

Eight months after launching its well-received consumer anti-spam software, IHateSpam, Sunbelt Software announced on Monday the availability of an enterprise edition.

The Tampa, Fla., maker of Windows-based management tools plans to position the anti-spam tool as a low-cost, low-maintenance alternative to expensive corporate anti-spam options like Brightmail. IHateSpam filters unwanted bulk email at the server level, while allowing users to adjust their security levels with customizable whitelists, blacklists, and rules.

The software works with Outlook, allowing users to operate with a familiar interface. To guard against the problem of false positives, IHateSpam allows users to quarantine filtered email for later review.

The software is priced on a per-mailbox basis, starting at $600 for 50 mailboxes with pricing going as low as $4 per mailbox. The company expects the enterprise edition will be generally available next month.

Survey: Media Buyers See More Online Spending in 2003

A survey of media planners and buyers by online researcher InsightExpress found that nearly half expected their budgets to increase this year and 36 percent expected higher online advertising spending.

The survey of 1,092 buyers and planners found that marketing professionals are cautiously optimistic for the year. While only 18 percent expect their budgets to decrease, four out of five said they felt more pressure to show results from their ad campaigns. Nearly two-thirds said the added emphasis on accountability would make their jobs more difficult this year.

“While money is flowing a little more freely, advertisers are demanding their dollars spent more wisely,” said Doug Adams, director of marketing at InsightExpress.

The findings echo a recently issued survey of marketing chiefs, who said they expected increased spending on initiatives that can show direct financial results.

Adams said the survey showed the big winners would be media that offer a targeted audience. Other than online, media planners and buyers expect to spend more money in cable television and radio.

The survey was conducted with the help of trade publisher MediaPost.

MSN, The Knot Renew Vows

MSN extended its agreement with wedding information provider The Knot to act as the portal’s exclusive provider of nuptials content.

The two companies first linked up in November 2000 for The Knot to provide wedding-related editorial content, planning resources and gown selections.

MSN and The Knot did not disclose financial details or when the new agreement expires.

Earlier last week, The Knot extended its agreement with AOL to run its Weddings@AOL channel.

In addition to its flagship site and AOL and MSN partnerships, The Knot publishes a national magazine, The Knot Weddings, and 20 regional wedding magazines through its Weddingpages subsidiary.