Sending Mass E-Mails from DB (not SPAM)

@ work we use an alert list to notify customers of stuff..

It was on MajorDomo on unix, but it sucks for maintenance.

So - I made a VBA thing that sends using an outlook object and a SMTP server, but it's real slow and ties up a PC pretty long..

Anyone know of a good way / free program / code to send mass e-mails from a DB?

Thanks! (this is not for SPAM)!!

Is it the program's fault, or the SMTP server? If you're trying to send each email as a separate To: [customer], it may be really slow going through the server. You might have better luck making the To: you@you.com, and BCC'ing everyone else you want to email. That's how most mass emailer programs work, I believe.

You know - I don't know too much about the real inner workings of mail so, plz don't laugh at how I'm doing this or what I ask :P

Right now, I send one e-mail to each person @ a 2-3 second delay (muahhahah nobie). I don't know why I didn't think of trying a BCC.

So let me ask this:

If I send one mail, with 1000 people BCC'd, then my SMTP server is going to send 1000 separate messages, or is it work like one message with multiple destinations. Simply asking because I'm trying to understand it.

I'm having a hard time explaining what I'm asking, but let's say that you can measure network throughput (bytes sent) on the SMTP server and you send the same message 2 ways. One way is 1 msg to each person, the other is 1 msg to 1000 people. Is the total "bytes sent" going to be the same in each situation? If it's a 1KB msg and you send it 1000 times the bytes sent would total 1000KB? If I sent one 1KB msg to 1000 people, will it be 1000KB sent or does it work differently?

Can you see what I'm asking? It's a simple question, but I'm maybe not phrasing it properly?

I'm wondering if the same resources (time/bwidth) are required to send 1 msg 1000 times or 1 msg to 1000 people.

Thanks much for the info!

The SMTP server still has to send the mail to 1000 different people.

The load has just been shifted from one computer to another.

For example, if I send 1000 emails out, MY computer has to send it out 1000 times.

But if I have 1000 BCCed, my SMTP server has to send it out 1000 times, and *I* only have to send it once.

Of course if you're your own SMTP server, the point is pretty much moot. Also, some SMTP servers (most actually, I think) have a limit on the number of people you can have in To, CC, or BCC

I have a few SMTP servers to choose from.

I will definately try the BCC thing right now and see what happens.

I control one of the SMTP servers, so I can adjust settings if it doesn't allow a ton of BCCs.

Thanks as always!