Novell has added wireless and encryption technology support to its internet messaging system.

Novell Internet Messaging System (Nims) 2.6 is aimed at ISPs and application service providers that want to offer email services to their customers. End users can access their Nims-based email from a range of third-party clients including Qualcomm Eudora, Microsoft Outlook and Netscape Messenger.

The release allows users to read and update their emails using Wap phones. Novell is working on adding support for personal digital assistants, but the company declined to give a time frame.

Nims 2.6 also enables service providers to add a standard secure OpenSSL layer to their mail services so that messages are encrypted as they travel from clients' browsers to servers. Novell said the performance degradation as a result of using OpenSSL is "negligible".

Also, administrators do not have to bring down portions of the system to add new users or change settings. Changes are updated after five minutes.

"With other internet messaging systems you may have to bring down code or disable log-in - there is always some form of interruption," said Lynn Madsen, Nims product manager.

Novell is also updating the product to support Ical, the industry standard calendaring specification that is due to be fully ratified next spring.