Head of the class

Open Text has released Version 7.1 of its FirstClass Communications Platform, a suite of messaging and communications software.

The new version is said to include new spam management capabilities and advanced feature s that allow users to set rules to automate the handling of their e-mail messages. The company claims FirstClass provides an important extension of Open Text's collaborative offerings into the domain of e-mail, voice mail and faxes.

According to Open Tex t, the key new features of FirstClass 7.1 release include:

• advanced message-handling rules for FirstClass mailboxes and conferences;

• new spam management capabilities, including support for the use of ?real-time blackhole lists? to block incoming mail from IP addresses that are known to be senders of spam;

• support for an expanded range of computing platforms, including Microsoft Windows (95, 98, NT, 2000, and XP versions), Apple Macintosh (OS 8, OS 9 and OS X versions), Linux and the Web;

• a new Webmail interface;

• an enhanced Web browser interface option; and

• a Lotus Notes/Domino connector.