Royal E-Mail backs security service with £100K bond

Postman Pat and his black and white secure ecommerce system

The Royal Mail has formally launched a secure e-mail service aimed at posting its 350-year-old business into the next millennium. Reported by The Register earlier this month ViaCode is being billed as the UK's "first secure service for business". And it's so confident that the service cannot be cracked, it's offering a £100,000 surety guaranteeing confidentiality. "Anyone serious about electronic commerce will have to adopt security practices and techniques to safeguard their business," said Royal Mail's MD Richard Dykes. "ViaCode has the potential to overcome any business' worries about Internet security…[and should help] provide UK companies with a powerful business tool to ensure they stay at the cutting edge in the e-commerce race with overseas rivals," he said. Executives at the Royal mail estimate that within two years the sale of secure e-commerce services will be worth £400 million in the UK alone. In Europe, that figure is expected to be nearer £2 billion. And the Royal Mail wants its share of the electronic pie. A spokesman for the organisation confirmed that no one has, as yet, signed up to the service although there is a "high level of interest". He also stamped out any suggestion that ViaCode spelt the end of traditional paper post. ®