Return Path Inc., New York, an e-mail change of address services provider, yesterday acquired Re-route Corp., an e-mail forwarding and customer acquisition solutions provider.
Re-route's e-mail forwarding lets people switch Internet service providers or change e-mail addresses while maintaining uninterrupted e-mail communication. E-mail messages sent to the old address are forwarded to a central mail hub where they are re-routed to the individual's new e-mail address.
The acquisition also brings Re-route's existing partnerships with AT&T Broadband, Verizon Wireless, MSN, AOL and RCN to Return Path.
“The acquisition of Re-route's proprietary technology allows us to further enhance our offering to consumers by providing true e-mail forwarding,” Return Path CEO Matt Blumberg said. “The addition of e-mail forwarding to our e-mail change of address notification service continues our strategy of developing an online equivalent to the USPS National Change of Address service for both consumers and businesses.”
In addition to forwarding e-mail from one account to another, the Re-route service issues real-time “change-of-address” notifications to the original e-mail senders to inform them that the recipient's address has changed.
Consumers have registered more than 10 million e-mail address changes to Return Path, with about 1 million changes added monthly. Re-route's forwarding service will be integrated into Return Path's change of address service for consumers. Return Path will leverage existing ISP relationships to introduce the service to consumers when they need it most, upon switching to a new ISP.
Re-route's technology and operations, currently based in Alexandria, VA, will transfer to Return Path's Superior, CO, offices.
