1 of 47

2 of 47

Universal Acceptance: New Internationalized Email Self-Certification Guide Overview��

ICANN76 | 15 March 2023

Universal Acceptance EAI Working Group

Universal Acceptance

3 of 47

Session Overview

Email Address Internationalization (EAI) Overview

Introduction to EAI Self-Certification

Why we are doing this
How to do it
Samples of the guide
What the UASG will do

Feedback from the Early Adopters

Nitin Walia (XGen)
Anawin Pongsaboripat (Roundcube)
Harsha Wijayawardhana (Roundcube)

Discussion

Questions and Answers (Q&A)

3

4 of 47

Review: Internationalized Email Addresses

Examples of email addresses that can be supported by UA-ready email systems:

mark@outlook.com | नितिन@एक्सजेनप्लस.भारत | 支持@电邮.在线

الدعم@داده.امارات | สนับสนุน@ดาต้าเมล.ไทย | ಬೆಂಬಲ@ಡೇಟಾಮೇಲ್.ಭಾರತ

4

5 of 47

EAI Self-Certification: Why Are We Doing This

Internationalized email isn’t backward-compatible to legacy email, so there is a supply/demand market problem:

Customers who want it don’t know which products and services support it.
Products and services that support it aren’t visible to potential customers.

Self-certification gives customers a consistent way to compare products, services, and system providers to each other.

Self-certification gives motivated developers and service providers the ability to compete with other offerings.

The result is the creation of a market for UA-ready email services and tools.

IT and procurement managers can use these scores to quantify the EAI level they are willing to buy.

5

The goal: improve EAI adoption by activating market forces
EAI overview: all email addresses work, even globally inclusive ones�

Silver medal success: I am <Lee@example.com> (limited Latin address), but I can exchange email with <जिम@डाटामेल.भारत> (globally inclusive address)
Gold medal success: I am <जिम@डाटामेल.भारत>, and can exchange email with anyone.

�The problem: EAI support is invisible in the marketplace

(Show screenshots of product pages like Exchange 365, Datamail, Coremail, Apple Mail, and point out that they don't say clearly "we let you exchange email with globally inclusive addresses", "we let you host globally inclusive email addresses".
Customer: how does customer explain that they want to use globally inclusive email addresses?
Customer: how does customer know that vendor's product supports globally inclusive email addresses well enough?
Part of the problem is that we lack phrases which mean "EAI support" in specific, useful ways

The solution: EAI Certification levels

We define phrases which mean "EAI Support": "Silver", "Gold", and "Platinum".
We publish a detailed "EAI Self Certification Guide" document which tells vendors how to test their own products.
It is self-certification, because we don't have resources to do the testing for vendors. So vendors test themselves.
We have a process by which vendors can ask UASG for help with testing technique, and can tell UASG what their rating is.

Current status of EAI Certification

We have defined phrases and support levels.
"EAI Self Certification Guide" document is solid draft. Getting reviewed. Some early adopters are using it.
We are setting up the process for UASG to support vendors who are self-certifying.

6 of 47

Get the EAI Self Certification Guide

6

7 of 47

How To Do It (1)

Get the Guide from https://uasg.tech/eai-certification

Choose the features, components, or services you want to certify:

Just the Webmail UI?
IMAP or no IMAP?
A full end-to-end online service with a mobile client?
It’s up to you!

Build your tests

Each system or component may be sufficiently different from others to require specialized testing.
But you probably already created these tests when you were developing the SW in the first place to ensure RFC-compliance.
Expect some manual testing.

7

8 of 47

How To Do It (2)

Populate your test scores into the scoring tool.

It’s an Excel spreadsheet which will compute the scores for each of your components.
The next version will also compute scores for complete systems built from tested components.

Submit your scores to UASG.tech for publication.

Get your logo and add it to your site and marketing materials!

8

9 of 47

Defining EAI-Readiness Levels

The self certification guide provides Silver, Gold, and Platinum scores for individual attributes. These scores replace the old Level 1 and Level 2 concepts.

Level	Functionality
Platinum��	Meets all Gold requirements + Supports all UASG Best Practices guidelines Hosting functionality for internationalized mailboxes is enabled by default [to the user and administrator] May also includes “aspirational” extra features which improve user experience, also listed below Documentation clearly explains how to set up, use and administer Platinum-level features All integrated tools or utilities should be UA-ready and EAI-enabled as well
Gold��	Meets all Silver requirements + Hosting functionality for internationalized mailboxes is available but not enabled by default Marketing materials and public messaging promote globally inclusive email systems and features Documentation clearly explains how to set up and use Gold-level features Functionality which processes email addresses rather than messages, for example address books, can create and store Unicode email addresses
Silver	Enables its users to process email messages from EAI mailboxes but does not host such mailboxes Functionality which processes email addresses rather than messages, for example address books, need not create or store Unicode email addresses

9

10 of 47

Example from the Guide (1)

10

11 of 47

Example from the Guide (2)

11

12 of 47

Examples from the Scoring Tool

12

13 of 47

What the UASG Will Do

Distribute the guide and scoring tool on uasg.tech
Provide technical support for the guide and testing process
Answer questions about the testing process
Post results on uasg.tech
Provide level logo
Case Study

What the UASG Will Not Do

Will not write and/or run your test
Will not audit your results
Will not provide financial support for the testing

13

14 of 47

EAI Level Recognitions - Sample Logo Art

14

15 of 47

Feedback from Early Adopters

Universal Acceptance

16 of 47

Nitin Walia (XGenPlus)

Bringing Billion People Online

www.xgenplus.com

16

17 of 47

What’s the Need

Domain names and email are essential pillars to access and communicate over the Internet

People wishing to communicate in their own preferred language, but do not have a domain and email in their own language

People who don’t know English are often deprived from the benefits of the Internet

This large population is also out of reach for all Internet companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, etc., along with government and banking services as they do not have IDNs and email addresses in local languages

17

18 of 47

Email Addresses in Preferred Languages

Also Known as Email Address Internationalization (EAI)

We have identified areas of need and designed and developed the World’s First Email Solution known as XgenPlus to provide mailbox in users preferred language completely EAI-ready.

An Email address in the user’s preferred language

मुख्यमंत्री@राजस्थान.भारत

Local Language Email

Access on Mobile / PC / Laptop & Tablets

Easy, Emotional and Patriotic

XGENPLUS

Email Address Internationalization Solution (EAI)

Aliasing (multiple ids in one mailbox)

Works with Legacy Systems

Secured and Spam Free

18

19 of 47

Way of Availability

19

20 of 47

XgenPlus Components and IP

EAI-Ready

Native Mobile Apps

OS & DB

EAI-Ready

Antispam

Email

Mail Box

Send User Agent

1. Mail Submission

Mail Transfer Agent

SMPT

2. Message Transfer

Message Transfer Agent

3. Final Delivery

Receiver

User agent

100% designed and built by XgenPlus Team

Few Server Components listed below:

WebMail

IMAP

POP

Queue Manager

Antispam

Mail Store

Calendar

Contact

Encryption

Bulk Mail

Rights Mgmt

Virtual Storage

Mobile Apps

Admin Web

Admin App

Mail Archival

Scheduler

Reports

20

21 of 47

Ratings of Applications Based on Ratings of Components

Email System Components

No. of Tests Done

No. of Tests Passed

EAI-Ready Mail User Agent (MUA) and EAI-Ready Webmail clients

EAI-Ready Mail User Agent (MUA) and EAI-Ready Webmail clients which support IMAP

EAI-Ready Mail User Agent (MUA) and EAI-Ready Webmail clients which support POP

EAI-Mail Submission Agent (MSA)

Mail Transfer Agent (MTA)

Mail Delivery Agent (MDA)

Mail Delivery Agent (MDA) which supports IMAP

Mail Delivery Agent (MDA) which supports POP

Mail Service Provider (MSP)

38

37

21

12

21

17

8

22

9

12

21

22 of 47

Aspirational Features

IDN – Internationalized Domain Name (term used for non- ASCII / linguistic domain name)

EAI – Email Address Internalization (term used for non-ASCII / linguistic email address)

Feature

XgenPlus

IDN Hosting

Yes

EAI Support

Yes

On Premise

Yes

White Labeling

Yes

OEM Bundling

Yes

Downgrading

Yes

Own IDN Supported Antispam

Yes

EAI Supported Mailing List

Yes

22

23 of 47

Outcome / Level Achievement

Meets all requirements
Supports all UASG Best Practices
Hosting functionality for internationalized mailboxes is enabled by default
Also include “aspirational” extra features which improve user experience
Documentation clearly explains how to set up, use, and administer Platinum-level features
All integrated tools or utilities are also UA-ready and EAI-enabled

23

24 of 47

EAI Guide Feedback (Nitin Walia)

Feedback

This is an excellent starting point for any mail service provider who wants to implement EAI support in their system and determine their level of EAI support.
The guide is well drafted and easy for mail service providers, software vendors, and developers to self-certify the readiness of their email systems, tools, and utilities for Email Address Internationalization (EAI).
This guide applies to all kinds of software which stores or processes email messages or email addresses.
The concept of levels provide/assist IT and procurement managers with the information they need about the EAI-readiness of an email service/application.

24

25 of 47

EAI Success Stories

The Government of Rajasthan, through RajMail project, has provided all its 20 Million citizens with a free EAI email address in language of their choice (Hindi & English)

https:// मेल.राजस्थान.भारत

National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) Registry of India providing Free Email ID with every IDN booked in all 22 official language of India

https:// मेल.पता.भारत

Launched By Honorable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi in India

The Government of Karnataka Accomplished Email on IDN Domain in Local Kannada Language

https://ಮೇಲ್.ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ.ಭಾರತ

ALL SUPPORTED BY XGENPLUS | WWW.XGENPLUS.COM

25

26 of 47

What We Have For You Today

TEST EAI FREE

Host with us on your Own Domain

Deploy XGENPLUS in your Own Environment

Visit www.xgenplus.com | https://एक्सजेनप्लस.भारत

26

27 of 47

Reach Me

www.xgenplus.com | https://एक्सजेनप्लस.भारत

DATA XGEN TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD.

Station Road, Durgapura, Jaipur-302018, Rajasthan, (INDIA)

REACH ME IN YOUR PREFERRED LANGUAGE

Nitin Walia

+91-982802500

nitin@xgenplus.com

27

28 of 47

Feedback from Anawin Pongsaboripat (Roundcube)

Universal Acceptance

29 of 47

Anawin Pongsaboripat (Roundcube)

29

30 of 47

คน.ไทย Test Result (Roundcube)

Email System Components

No. of Tests Done

No. of Tests Passed

EAI-Ready Mail User Agent (MUA) and EAI-Ready Webmail clients

EAI-Ready Mail User Agent (MUA) and EAI-Ready Webmail clients which support IMAP

EAI-Ready Mail User Agent (MUA) and EAI-Ready Webmail clients which support POP (Not Supported)

EAI-Mail Submission Agent (MSA)

Mail Transfer Agent (MTA)

Mail Delivery Agent (MDA)

Mail Delivery Agent (MDA) which supports IMAP

Mail Delivery Agent (MDA) which supports POP

Mail Service Provider (MSP)

38

29

21

19

0

21

17

8

22

20

9

8

12

0

30

31 of 47

EAI Guide Feedback (Anawin Pongsaboripat)

Feedback

This is a good starter for all mail service providers who want to implement EAI support and want to know what their level of EAI support is.
This guide has no details on how to score your system if you fail some tests (i.e., what tier you will be if you do not pass).
It should have some examples of how to test each point in general.
It would be good to translate into local languages.

Next Steps

We plan to develop our email system คน.ไทย to meet Gold and Platinum levels respectively.
Promote this guide to our local email service providers and developers.

31

32 of 47

Feedback from Harsha Wijayawardhana (Roundcube, Dovecot, Postfix and MUTT)

Universal Acceptance

33 of 47

Harsha Wijayawardhana (Roundcube,Dovecot,Postfix and MUTT)

*Sri Lankan Universal Acceptance Project runs two EAI-ready email platforms.

*Both servers runs on CENTOS Stream 9 OS.

*Universal Acceptance Email Platform runs with Postfix as MTA, Dovecot Server for IMAP 4, POP and Secure POP, with TCP ports 25,110, 143, 993, 995, 587 open and Roundcube as an IMAP web client.

33

34 of 47

Harsha Wijayawardhana (Roundcube,Dovecot,Postfix and MUTT)

* We used the Self Certification Guideline to benchmark our platforms.

* Postfix MTA passed with flying colors, however, Dovecot failed in some of the tests.

* Based on the Guideline, we devised tests and results were recorded. For instance, we gauged that Dovecot in general requires upgrade for IMAP version and we will be looking for an IMAP server with better EAI support (Sri Lanka will develop an IMAP server with UTF8 support).

* Roundcube is an IMAP client. Although it supported UTF 8 email addresses fully, we had issues with logging in using UTF8 usernames and passwords.

34

35 of 47

User Experience Continued

35

36 of 47

User Experience Continued

36

37 of 47

MUTT - Linux Email Client with Postfix MTA

37

38 of 47

MUTT Continued

38

39 of 47

Discussion

Universal Acceptance

40 of 47

Questions?

Nitin:

About adoption of UASG 009 Quick Guide to Tender and Contractual Documents Includes details on good practice clauses for Universal Acceptance as well as IPv6 and DNSSEC
Some success stories of successful EAI adoption in India
What motivated Xgenplus to become EAI-ready.

40

41 of 47

What you must do from now on ?

Check for EAI support when purchasing a new email system or subscribing to a service.
Check email system's Level, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
Check for the Level Logo on the provider's website or product literature.

41

42 of 47

Get Involved

Universal Acceptance

43 of 47

Participate to UA Day events https://universalacceptance.day/

For more information, visit https://uasg.tech or email info@uasg.tech.

Join the UA Discuss email alias: https://uasg.tech/subscribe

Register to participate in UA working groups https://uasg.tech/join/.

Follow, share, like, and engage with the UASG on social media. �

Use the UASG hashtag in relevant posts: #Internet4All

Twitter: @UASGTech

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uasgtech/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uasgtech/

Report a problem if you find an application or webpage that is not UA-ready: https://uasg.tech/global-support-center/

Get Involved!

43

44 of 47

EAI Case Studies by UASG

Visit https://uasg.tech/case-studies/

44

45 of 47

If you buy a new email system today? �[Poll #1]

What EAI Certification level do you buy for the new email system?

Platinum
Gold
Silver
no EAI support required

How much more would you pay for that EAI Certification level?

2x the price (+100%)
+50%
+10%
+0% (will not pay extra for EAI)

Why?

[discuss / type in chat / email it to us]

45

46 of 47

Which terminology is best? �[Poll #2]

We are not sure how to refer to email addresses like <user@example.com>, <सार्वभौमिक-स्वीकृति-परीक्षण.संगठन>.

“ASCII address”: not accurate. “EAI”: General public does not know “EAI”.

Addresses like <user@example.com> are:

ASCII addresses
Legacy addresses
Limited Latin addresses
other? _______

Addresses like <อีเมลทดสอบ@ยูเอทดสอบ.ไทย> and <email-test@universal-acceptance-test.international> are:

EAI addresses
Unicode addresses
Globally inclusive addresses
other? ________

46

47 of 47

47