Feature

Distributed Internet Messaging System Demo

DIMS comparison with Email and Listserv systems

Feature

DIMS (Web-based - Distributed Internet Messaging System)

Email (Group mail-outs from standard Email s/w)

Listserv (automated mailing group software)

Ease of initial message system setup (set up addresses, delivery rules, etc.) Easy - no setup required Moderate Hard

Ease of message creation Easy. Message is typed into the Web form, and is instantly available. Moderate (manual process for each message) Time delay before delivery Easy. Time delay before delivery

Ease of delivery Easy Moderate Easy

Ongoing Maintenance Easy-essentially no maintenance required Moderate - need to manually add, delete and correct Email addresses and groups Hard - need to manually add, delete and correct Email addresses and privileges

Confidentiality Message areas can be password protected. Messages are held within a secure database. None (depends on the accuracy of the sender’s address list.) Subscriber based. Only subscribers get the mailings, only subscribers can add messages.

Targeting messages to specific groups of recipients Easy Labour intensive Very Hard: There is no sub-division of messages within the subscribers. A different Listserv is required for each group.

Ability to search messages for title, content, sender, date etc. Easy No ability No ability

Updating existing messages Easy Not possible - must send new message Not possible - must send new message

Administration Can be delegated across several staff members in different offices, administration is done by password in any Web browser One person manages the system manually, difficulty depends on the Email program being used. One or two people need training as administrators. Difficulty depends on the Listserv s/w.

Cost of setup Moderate ($ 2 - 3,000) None - but high labour cost of setting up and maintaining address groups and handling each message Low to Moderate ($ 0 to $ 500 depending on software chosen) plus training & labour costs

Ongoing Costs $ 75 per month None - labour costs only 0 to $50 per month

Message expiry Automatic None None

Archiving of past messages Automatic. Archived messages can be searched and viewed. Manual Manual

Client requirements to read messages Can be accessed from any Web browser Requires a personal Email account Requires a personal Email account

Access messages from any location Easy. Use any computer with a Web browser (hotel, remote office, library, Internet café) Difficult to impossible depending on location - if on the road, the client would have to have access to their personal Email account Difficult to impossible - if on the road, the client would have to have access to their personal Email account

Message Effectiveness Because the DIMS site is solely for the target audience and customized for the organization, there are no distractions. Messages remain on the system and can be re-read. Urgent messages can be highlighted. Danger of the recipient throwing out the mail message along with junk Email. No distinction between these and other Email messages. Danger of the recipient throwing out the mail message along with junk Email.

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DIMS comparison with Email and Listserv systems

Feature

DIMS (Web-based - Distributed Internet Messaging System)

Email (Group mail-outs from standard Email s/w)

Listserv (automated mailing group software)

Feature	DIMS (Web-based - Distributed Internet Messaging System)	Email (Group mail-outs from standard Email s/w)	Listserv (automated mailing group software)
Ease of initial message system setup (set up addresses, delivery rules, etc.)	Easy - no setup required	Moderate	Hard
Ease of message creation	Easy. Message is typed into the Web form, and is instantly available.	Moderate (manual process for each message) Time delay before delivery	Easy. Time delay before delivery
Ease of delivery	Easy	Moderate	Easy
Ongoing Maintenance	Easy-essentially no maintenance required	Moderate - need to manually add, delete and correct Email addresses and groups	Hard - need to manually add, delete and correct Email addresses and privileges
Confidentiality	Message areas can be password protected. Messages are held within a secure database.	None (depends on the accuracy of the sender’s address list.)	Subscriber based. Only subscribers get the mailings, only subscribers can add messages.
Targeting messages to specific groups of recipients	Easy	Labour intensive	Very Hard: There is no sub-division of messages within the subscribers. A different Listserv is required for each group.
Ability to search messages for title, content, sender, date etc.	Easy	No ability	No ability
Updating existing messages	Easy	Not possible - must send new message	Not possible - must send new message
Administration	Can be delegated across several staff members in different offices, administration is done by password in any Web browser	One person manages the system manually, difficulty depends on the Email program being used.	One or two people need training as administrators. Difficulty depends on the Listserv s/w.
Cost of setup	Moderate ($ 2 - 3,000)	None - but high labour cost of setting up and maintaining address groups and handling each message	Low to Moderate ($ 0 to $ 500 depending on software chosen) plus training & labour costs
Ongoing Costs	$ 75 per month	None - labour costs only	0 to $50 per month
Message expiry	Automatic	None	None
Archiving of past messages	Automatic. Archived messages can be searched and viewed.	Manual	Manual
Client requirements to read messages	Can be accessed from any Web browser	Requires a personal Email account	Requires a personal Email account
Access messages from any location	Easy. Use any computer with a Web browser (hotel, remote office, library, Internet café)	Difficult to impossible depending on location - if on the road, the client would have to have access to their personal Email account	Difficult to impossible - if on the road, the client would have to have access to their personal Email account
Message Effectiveness	Because the DIMS site is solely for the target audience and customized for the organization, there are no distractions. Messages remain on the system and can be re-read. Urgent messages can be highlighted.	Danger of the recipient throwing out the mail message along with junk Email. No distinction between these and other Email messages.	Danger of the recipient throwing out the mail message along with junk Email.