OREANDA-NEWS. Deutsche Telekom and United Internet have launched an initiative within the industry for secure e-mail communication across Germany. The partners' "E-mail made in Germany" program utilizes an additional security standard that for the very first time enables GMX, T-Online and WEB.DE users to automatically encrypt data over all transmission paths and offers peace of mind that data are handled in compliance with German data privacy laws. Data are encrypted directly by the provider, which means customers need no specific technical know-how and incur no extra costs. All data are stored in secure data centers located in Germany. In addition, a special designation allows users to see before dispatching their e-mail which of the recipients selected also use secure e-mail addresses and thus comply with the initiative's security standards.

From today, e-mail communication between data centers at GMX, T-Online and WEB.DE is being sent in encrypted form. Transmission from the handset to the e-mail server is already encrypted for all customers who use an e-mail application from one of the partners or who have activated SSL encryption in their e-mail program (e.g., Outlook). For security reasons, from the beginning of 2014 the initiative partners will only transport SSL-encrypted e-mails to ensure that data traffic over all of their transmission paths is secure.

"Germans are deeply unsettled by the latest reports on the potential interception of communication data. Our initiative is designed to counteract this concern and make e-mail communication throughout Germany more secure in general. Protection of the private sphere is a valuable commodity," said Renй Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG.

"Together, we have a strong customer basis, which means the initiative offers secure communication for two-thirds of all e-mail users in Germany. 'E-mail made in Germany' is open to other providers who commit to the standards set out by our initiative. Alongside e-mail encryption and the designation of secure e-mail addresses, a third key element relates to data processing and archiving, which is carried out in Germany. This ensures that Germany's stringent data privacy laws are complied with," said Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet AG.