I was recently presented with an email from one of our designers heralding the wonders and possible advantages and benefits of procuring the services of BigString.com. Upon visiting their website and reviewing some of the services they claim to provide I gave them a call.
I was immediately transferred to one of the founders and developers desk where quite the enlightening conversation took place. The summary….
BigString offers the ability to send an “email” that is retrievable by the sender and open for “editing” at any time. Editing includes the change by addition or removal of information ranging from one character to the entire message. Yes, removal includes the deletion of the entire message or, in other words, it was never sent. BigString accomplishes this task by not actually sending a message to the recipient but instead an html framework which they claim is not detectable to the average user, the only apparent indicators being changes or for the more technically stalwart, the header of the message.
While contemplating the implications of the above, I asked about “less than honest utilization”. I asked if this wasn’t viewed as a risk. “Some of us thinks so, yes, but the attorneys assure us that the EULA covers us”. Logs? None. Can the recipient copy the message? Nope. Forward it? Nope. Print it? Nope.
Primary user profile? Online daters, go figure
Number of actual business customer? 1
How long in business? 2 years
My take-
From the perspective of a user? This rocks!!!! I could potentially send a nasty gram to my boss, get fired and then go to litigation on grounds of wrongful dismissal, this after deleting the email of course.
From the perspective of a Technology Manager/SysSec Manager? I think I am going to be ill. Patriot Act here I come.
So, there we have it. After my conversation ended with the “co-founder and developer” I continued to mull this over, especially the ethical and potential legal implications. I still am and I am still shuddering.
Some things are drop dead, way cool. Sometimes, those same things a better left in the box of wishful thinking.
What do you guys think? I’m dying to here the perspectives on this one…..
Check them out at www.bigstring.com
