Message Handling System
Novell's MHS (Message Handling Service) was an important early email protocol.
Originally developed by Action Technologies, Inc. (ATI) in 1986, it was first licensed, then later bought outright by Novell.
Role as a gateway
MHS was a very 'open' system, and this, with Novell's encouragement, made it popular in the early 1990's as a 'glue' between not only the proprietary email systems of the day such as PROFS, SNADS, MCI, 3+Mail and ccMail[1], but also the competing standards-based SMTP and X.400 - however by 1996 it was clear that SMTP across the Internet would take over this role.
A compatible range of gateway products called Connect2 from Infinite Technologies (now Captaris)[2] was also very widely used as part of MHS-based email networks.
Email clients
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. This powerful yet easy-to-use electronic mail software program for the networked PC environment - now incorporates dramatic new image handeling features.
Utilizing Canon image scanners, you could quickly scan-in document text, graphics, drawings, maps and pictures directly into Para-Mail.
Pioneering Windows-based DaVinci Email and the free Pegasus Mail client both used MHS as their native protocol[1].
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.
- ^ "MHS: Correct Addressing format to DaVinci Email via MHS". Microsoft Support Knowledge Base. Retrieved 2007-01-15.