Authenticating SMPT Server

[#1]

Can anyone shed any light on when PlusNet will be offering Authenticating SMTP servers?
I've had a quick look/search and can't find an update...

[#2]

Hi there,
We don't have a timescale for this currently but will let everyone know once we have specific dates.
It is definitely something that we want to offer in the not too distant future.

[#3]

A few more votes for
PUGIT 203 Change SMTP mail to require Username/password
and
PUGIT 313 Accept passwords for people sending mail
would help to prioritise this.

[#4]

Reading one of the proposals there is a fear of user confusion and overwhelming of CS with  "I cannot send mail" questions if a PW was required.
To overcome fears that the CS team would be overwhelmed - PN could introduce and additional outgoing mail server that required authentication.
Then users wanting to use such a server when traveling the globe would find out about it and following the supplied instructions would get it working correctly.

[#5]

I don't think the mechanics of providing an authenticated service are the problem, it's finding the resource needed to design it, set it up and integrate it with the portal.
Between them PUGIT 203 and PUGIT 313 cover what is needed.  There are security concerns even with authenticated sending; if someone uses a weak password it could be guessed through a dictionary attack.  A roaming button (off by default) would help combat this, but the pros and cons need to be gone through quite carefully.
The last thing PlusNet needs is in-house originated spam.
Incidentally this issue was also mentioned here, just a few days ago.