A review of Infinite Responder, a free, open source autoresponder and email newsletter mailer software program.

Autoresponders and email newsletter mailers are handy tools for businesses large and small. Even individuals responsible for communicating with large groups, such as church members and community organizations can effectively utilize a newsletter mailer and autoresponder. The best autoresponder is open to question, but a free, open source software combination of autoresponder and email mailer is hard to beat.

What Is an Autoresponder?

An autoresponder is the software program that kicks into action when a person signs up for a newsletter or for information at an Internet web site. It will respond automatically, sending the requested information, and maybe much more.

Sequential Autoresponders

Sequential autoresponders can automatically send a subscriber a series of emails over time, offering follow up information, or providing product and service information similar to that requested. Sequential autoresponders, once set up, require no manual intervention, enabling the one-person business to appear as professional as a big corporation.

Infinite Response Autoresponder/Newsletter Mailer

Infinite Responder is a hybrid sequential autoresponder and email, newsletter mailer. Best of all, it's absolutely free. This free software download is open source, licensed under GPL, and loaded with useful features. Among those listed at Infinite Response's website are:

* Single or Double Opt-In

* Easy web-based subscriptions

* Email-based subscriptions

* Sequential and absolute autoresponder timing

* Newsletter style mail bursts

* Easy bounce handling

* Unlimited messages and lists

* Individual scheduled messages

* Full web-based control panel

* Easy setup and installation

* Easily add emails individually or in a group

* HTML and text email messages

* Multi-part HTML ensures readability

* Strong security features

* Numerous remote subscription possibilities

* 30+ custom tags to personalize your mail

* Convenient in-line help system

* HTML editor plug-in

* Global blacklist capability

* Simple templates allow easy customization

* RFC compliant emails aid deliverability

* Unlimited custom fields

* Subscription referral tracking fields

* Daily and per-batch throttling

* Queued message cache

* Efficient mail delivery functions

* Easy opt-in and opt-out redirect

Installation and Technical Support

Note the number of features above which are prefaced by easy. But keep in mind that easy, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. This writer had some installation and initial implementation problems.

The upside of open source software is that it is free. A product that is full featured, robust, and free is a very useful product. The downside of free software normally hits if installation is tricky or there are technical problems the user cannot solve. Infinite Responder, as with all free, open source software downloads comes with limited support.

The product developer offers installation and trouble resolution support for a very reasonable fee, currently $30 US. There is a support forum at which anyone can post problems, as well as offering suggestions and product requests. However, four days elapsed without a response to a problem this writer posted. That is the nature and risk of free software.

A Usable Autoresponder

The online manual for this product is well organized and useful. The product has been robust and reliable. It's easy to customize subscriber sign-up forms to match the look and feel of different web sites. This writer found no ranting or complaining posts on the forum or elsewhere on the Internet, always a good sign. All in all, Infinite Responder is a viable autoresponder and email newsletter mailer, even considering the technical support caveat.