UPDATE: 10:56 AM EDT – The Zimbra service is now responding to requests. We are continuing to work on the Zimbra system to restore full functionality and capacity.

UPDATE: 12:30PM EDT – Service is now restored, but there is currently a backlog of email in the Zimbra queue waiting to be delivered. We are flushing the delivery queues as quickly as possible.

UPDATE: 5:00PM EDT – We are continuing to flush the email delivery queue on the Zimbra servers. Due to the exponential rate at which the email deliveries speed up once the queue size becomes more and more manageable, we do not have an estimate at this time as to when all of the emails currently in the queue will be delivered; however, we expect the bulk of the queue to catch up during off-peak hours.

10/21/2009

UPDATE: 9:00AM EDT – As of this morning, the backlog of email in the Zimbra queue was successfully scanned for viruses and delivered to the appropriate inboxes. Thank you for your patience while we worked to resolve this issue. We will continue to monitor the queue throughout the day to ensure it continues to function efficiently.

As a footnote from the time we started IBEAM system which was many many years ago our pricing has always been way below every other competitive system out there. This pricing change is not an increase in profit for us but a reinvestment to make the system even better for you!

Over the years lists, sends, requirements and support for an effective email management systems has grown tremendously. Better detailed reporting, faster sends, scheduling, templates, auto replies, bandwidth, better more powerful servers etc. etc. etc. IBEAM has been a real value and I promise it will continue to be.

Please bear with us as we work out some details on our end a little more. Nothing will change until you know well in advance and we hear your valuable feedback so please keep it coming. Thank you!

Two areas of concern are marked with red arrows:

Click here to view the IBEAM Pricing Comparison Graph

Last night we rolled out the new optimization for Ignite. I could not believe how fast auction lists now come up!!! We have been working on this optimization since before the NAA Conference & Show in July. However, it could only be rolled out after we changed templates and a few other items, which we accomplished over the weekend.

If you’re using Ignite you will be extremely pleased with the speed that your auctions and as a result your website loads up now. Bench-marked calendar loading averaged less than 3 seconds.

If you’re not using Ignite you can look at any of our state sites and or portals to see the speed.

http://auctionservices.com/auction-portals.php

Google Partnership:

On a different note we have not formally announced this yet but we have partnered with Google for email management via their Apps. We have moved two auctioneers so far in a beta mode. They are extremely pleased and we are as well…

The short of it all is that Zimbra, our current email client, and three servers are not doing it for us and the 2,800+ email accounts that we manage. Google has all the horsepower plus many great features included. All email that our auctioneers currently have in the Zimbra system will be ported over for them after we have setup their email accounts. They email addresses will still be youremailaccount@yourdomain.

This is a huge advantage for our clients and will streamline email plus scan junk mail much better as well since we have the power of the Google backbone…

We will do this transition in batches not to have anything fall through the cracks. Please stay tuned for more information…

Respectfully,
Richard A. Romanus Sr.
President & CEO
AuctionServices.com, Inc.
Roanoke, VA 24018
Office: 540-206-3311