103.127.56.239 at 06:09, 21 March 2024

2024-03-21T06:09:55Z

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'''Message Handling System''' ('''MHS''') is an important early email protocol developed by [[Action Technologies]], Inc. (ATI) in 1986. [[Novell]] licensed it in 1988 then later bought it.

==Email clients==
A wide variety of email clients used MHS, including:
* [[Para-Mail]] - Paradox Development introduced version 2.0 along with Novell at Comdex 1986.
* [[DaVinci Email]] - The first Microsoft Windows-based email client used MHS natively.
* [[Pegasus Mail]] - A free mail client, this used MHS its native protocol.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/118859 | title = MHS: Correct Addressing format to DaVinci Email via MHS | work = Microsoft Support Knowledge Base | accessdate = 2007-01-15 }}</ref>
* [[ExpressIT!]] and [[ExpressIT! 2000]] - Infinite Technologies' MHS compliant email clients.
* [[Pegasus Mail|FirstMail]] - A cut-down version of [[Pegasus Mail]], bundled with some versions of [[NetWare]].
* [[Futurus TEAM]] - Early [[groupware]] package offering an MHS compliant email client.
* [[MacAccess]] - An Apple Macintosh MHS-based email client.

==Role as a gateway==
MHS was a very 'open' system, and this, with Novell's encouragement, made it popular in the early 1990s as a 'glue' between not only the proprietary email systems of the day such as [[PROFS]], [[SNADS]], [[MCI Communications|MCI]], [[3+Mail]], [[cc:Mail]], [[Para-Mail]] and [[Microsoft Mail]], but also the competing standards-based [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol|SMTP]] and [[X.400]]. However, by 1996 it was very clear that SMTP over the Internet would take over this role.

==Work-alike products==
A compatible family of products from [[Infinite Technologies]] (now Captaris) and marketed under the name Connect2<ref>[http://www.networkworld.com/archive/1994/94-03-07hot_.html ''"...offers improved performance, greater reliability and much more flexibility in everything from communications hardware to scheduling..."''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330215111/http://www.networkworld.com/archive/1994/94-03-07hot_.html |date=2014-03-30 }}, 03/07/94, Mark Gibbs,
Network World</ref> were also very widely used as part of MHS-based email networks.

==Decline==
Novell became increasingly less supportive after their 1994 purchase of [[WordPerfect]] as they worked to transform [[WordPerfect Office]] into [[Groupwise#History|GroupWise]].

At about the same time, confidence in the future of [[X.400]] collapsed and [[SMTP]] email across the public [[internet]] became the compelling choice for mail between unrelated organisations, replacing MHS's former "glue" role.

==Cessation==
In order to facilitate asynchronous communication, decouple components, and create robust distributed systems, message handling systems are essential. Through the provision of fundamental messaging features and integration capabilities, these systems enable enterprises to create reliable, scalable, and effective applications that satisfy the requirements of contemporary distributed computing settings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://supermachines.io/best-ai-email-generators-2024/ |title=Best AI Email Generators |date=19 March 2024}}</ref>

== References ==
Para-Mail from Paradox Development Corporation was the first email package to be brought into Novell and MHS. Paradox Development Corporation introduced Para-Mail version 2.0 with Novell at Comdex 1986.
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051124080957/http://www.actiontech.com/about_us/Chronology.cfm Chronology] Action Technologies
*[http://support.novell.com/techcenter/articles/ana19951003.html Integrating MHS Services with Other Novell Products] Novell

[[Category:Email systems]]

Message Handling System - Revision history

103.127.56.239 at 06:09, 21 March 2024