The Hindu Business Line : Stata Labs unveils search-based e-mail product

Bloomba was designed and developed by the Chennai-based Integrated SoftTech Solutions (iSoftTech) Pvt Ltd, provider of high-end design services to product development companies. It was launched by Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Professor, IIT Madras. iSoftTech has been appointed as resellers of Bloomba in India.

Using Bloomba, one can instantly find any e-mail message, attachment or contact whether or not one uses the folders. It also has an integrated personal information manager that includes a searchable calendar and contacts, said Ms Ellen Salisbury, Senior Vice-President, Products and Services, Stata Labs. The product, which was launched in the US in 2003 and costs $60 there, will be available in India through iSoftTech's Website for Rs 1,499, she told newspersons.

Bloomba is also bundled with Saproxy Pro 2.0, which is a spam protection software built on open source - SpamAssassin. This product would be available for Rs 499, she said.

Mr Ramie Stata and Mr Ray Stata founded Stata Labs in 2001. Dr Jhunjhunwala and Mr Ray Stata founded iSoftTech in the same year.

Bloomba would meet specific usage needs of heavy e-mail users and businesses without the cost of expensive server-based enterprise solutions, said Dr Jhunjhunwala.

According to Dr Jhunjhunwala, iSoftTech was open to the idea of shifting 20 plus engineers, who worked on Bloomba, to Stata Labs. "We are still exploring the BOT (build, operate and transfer) model," he said.