SnapMail 3.1 and SnapTalk 3.0

SnapMail 3.1 and SnapTalk 3.0

It’s rare to find a simple, compact and efficient software package that doesn’t cost a lot and does exactly what it’s designed to do, especially in the current environment of bloated, expensive and buggy software. SnapMail 3.1, at less than $30 per station, is an intra-office messaging and communication application that performs as advertised and is a delight to use. In fact, you might find yourself spending a lot of time simply exploring its capabilities.

I installed SnapMail on a nonserver, in-house network, and was sending messages within minutes. The application immediately identified all other users on the network and automatically configured the communication group. SnapMail requires no system administrator, Internet account or mail server to operate. Virtually any office network can be utilized, including LocalTalk, TokenTalk, EtherTalk, PhoneNet or Apple Remote Access.

A companion utility, called InterSnap, provides Internet-based communications and is available bundled with SnapMail in the SnapMail Pro package. Unfortunately, SnapMail isn’t cross-platform, so PC users on a network are out of luck. However, Glass Bead said it will be working on a cross-platform version soon and hopes to release it by the end of this year.

The messaging window consists of three panels and numerous buttons and drop-down menus that control how a message or reply is sent. Attachments are added to the message by dragging and dropping them onto a panel. Users appear under the “Group” panel, and received messages appear as a list in the main panel. Click on the message header, and the message is displayed below.

The program is so simple to use that the supplied 81-page PDF (Portable Document Format) manual is seldom needed. A “balloon” help system augments the manual and provides quick access to information about the program.

The capabilities of SnapMail, and its companion SnapTalk, a real-time teleconferencing utility, are almost too numerous to mention. Besides simple messaging and attachment transfer, the program provides the ability to send a single message to a group, return receipts for sent messages and has an extensive reminder system, search capabilities for messages, archiving capabilities and access/password protection. It’s fully customizable, includes an address book, spell checking and delivery log for messages. You can determine what alert sounds or silent dialog boxes notify you of incoming messages.

SnapMail also will read your messages out loud. Messages that have expired can be flagged for unattended deletion according to user-defined criteria. Voice messages can be sent that others can hear when they open the message.

SnapMail is efficient in a number of ways. For example, you can be working on a document with either SnapTalk or SnapMail open on your computer, and a co-worker can notify you of a telephone call without using your telephone intercom. A message appears in SnapMail indicating that “John Smith is on the phone.” By clicking on a single, pre-defined button, you can reply immediately to the message to tell your co-worker to take a message — no need to pick up the telephone or interrupt your workflow.

The co-worker would record the information, and send it directly to your SnapMail screen. This feature then creates a permanent, time-dated document of the telephone call and any other pertinent information. It also dispenses with mountains of pink message slips that easily can be lost or misunderstood. For offices without telephone intercom capabilities, this is a worthwhile feature and a timesaver.

SnapTalk permits real-time “chat room” discussions that can be archived for later use. Documents can be attached to the chat session and shared by the group. This program is interesting but of less use to law offices. A face-to-face attorney meeting makes more sense, although using a “chat room” in SnapTalk would provide comprehensive, permanent notes pertaining to the subject. Each office needs to evaluate its utility further for this type of use.

SnapMail and SnapTalk require Mac OS 7.5 to OS X, and any AppleTalk network is sufficient. The latest version of SnapTalk also works over TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). SnapMail Pro adds Internet communication capabilities to SnapMail with InterSnap.

Glass Bead Software
(978) 263-9956
www.glassbead.com

Pricing: Depends on number of users; starting at $149.75 for a five-user license of SnapMail; $24 for a two-user license of SnapTalk.

Mac OS 7.5 to X

Reviewed by David A. Saraceno, a practicing attorney and operator of MotionLaw, a forensic animation consulting firm in Spokane, Wash.

Jun/Jul '02 Issue

PROS
It doesn’t get any easier than this, includes extensive capabilities and OS 9 and OS X capabilities.

CONS
No cross-platform capability at this time.

VERDICT
This is what all software should be. Inexpensive, easy to use and imminently useful. If you need nonserver-based instant messaging, this is your ticket.