FAQ

Our Shazzle Plug is a mini-computer that connects directly to a router on your local network. It has its own operating system and provides a persistent connection to the Internet. Coupled with an external hard drive, the plug becomes your own personal server and acts as a digital mailbox where all your Shazzle messages are sent from and received. Although the Shazzle Plug installs at one location, you can access it from anywhere using an email client such as Microsoft Outlook, Mac Mail, or Mozilla Thunderbird. It is even compatible with mobile devices such as Blackberry and iPhone smartphones.

The ShazzleMail service is installed on the Shazzle Plug’s operating system, allowing your private messages to be delivered and sent directly from a single physical location. To access the service, all you need is an email client such as Mircosoft Outlook, Mac Mail, or Mozilla Thunderbird.

No. The ShazzleMail service also comes in a version that installs directly on your PC. Right now the software is not available for Mac users, but the Shazzle Plug can be used by any system with an email client. To use the desktop version, simply download the service onto your PC then configure your account in an email client such as Microsoft Office, Mozilla Thunderbird, or Mac Mail. The biggest drawback of using the desktop version is that you are unable to send or receive messages when you are not connected to the Internet. Thus, we recommend you use the plug if you are only connected to the Internet for a few hours a day.

The ShazzleMail service allows you to use an existing domain name as long as you host it off the Shazzle Plug. However, this means you will no longer be able to receive messages at that domain name from people outside our network. We recommend that you use the @ShazzleMail.com domain name while we continue to develop our product.

After you install the ShazzleMail service, you will configure the ShazzleMail account in an email client such as Microsoft Outlook, Mac Mail, or Mozilla Thunderbird, which is available for free at http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/ The ShazzleMail service will also operate on a mobile device as long as it is synced to your email client. For example, the Apple iPhone is able to send and receive messages using the Shazzle Plug as long as the service is configured using Mac Mail.

You can send ShazzleMail messages to anyone. Users inside our network will receive the messages directly as long as they are connected to the Internet. Recipients outside the network will receive a notification email with a link to view the secure and private message in a web browser. They can even reply to your message and receive attachments!

ShazzleMail is currently in Beta and our service is free for anyone who signs up. Visit us on our homepage at www.ShazzleMail.com and request a beta invite to start using the service today. All we ask is that you give us feedback and tell us how you like it.

To use the ShazzleMail service, you can either install a Shazzle Plug at a location where there is a persistent Internet connection or you can install the service directly on your PC. Anyone can use the Shazzle Plug as long as you have DSL or faster Internet service. The desktop version of the service is only available to users with Windows Vista or Windows 7. In both cases, you must also have an email client such as Microsoft Office, Mozilla Thunderbird, or Mac Mail. Thunderbird is available for free at http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/