Start-up uses spam filter to push e-mail client

Stata Labs is releasing a spam filter based on the popular open-source program SpamAssassin in hopes of attracting customers to its Bloomba e-mail application. On Wednesday, the San Mateo, Calif.-based Stata Labs began offering for free the final version of its SAproxy product, which identifies and quarantines spam. While SAproxy is available separately it's also part of, and most effective with, the company's Bloomba e-mail application, which aims to differentiate itself with its search and spam-filtering features.

Bloomba allows customers to search for keywords in attachments as well as within the text of messages. The application is based on Stata's database technology, which can cut search times in in-boxes from minutes to seconds, the company said.