PGP and offline-readers

I am getting involved in networking some local BBS' and message bases.
One of the primary functions of this network will be to serve as a 
library for PGP keys and to use PGP in sending messages. 
  
Now, if people read their messages offline, is there any offline
readers that exist that integrate PGP (all this is IBM based) or
is there an easy way to do this. Ideally, I want to avoid having to
decrypt each message individually and would like PGP interfaced so 
that it could recognize a message header, apply th eright key, and
output in the reader. I am probablky asking for too much.
   
Does anyone have any experience/advice w/ this tpye of large scale
implementation of PGP? I know the need to encrypt most of the messages
will be small, but I think it is important to get these people so
familar w/ encryption, they won't be scared and will defend it when
the need arises.

> I am getting involved in networking some local BBS' and message bases.
> One of the primary functions of this network will be to serve as a 
> library for PGP keys and to use PGP in sending messages. 
>   
> Now, if people read their messages offline, is there any offline
> readers that exist that integrate PGP (all this is IBM based) or

I'm working on one myself.  I'm testing it now; its still kinda alpha at the
moment.

> is there an easy way to do this. Ideally, I want to avoid having to
> decrypt each message individually and would like PGP interfaced so 
> that it could recognize a message header, apply th eright key, and
> output in the reader. I am probablky asking for too much.

Not at all.  My system is currently geared toward UNIX, but can be modified
to work with anything. ;^)  Right now, I have to select the mail by hand, but
the software xfers it and indexes it automaticly.  Then I can select read and
I get a menu of my messages to be read....index, sender, and subject.  I have
delete working.  Also, I have send working quite well.  You select Create to
create a message.  You then have a choice of editor.  After you create a file,
you have the option of calling the encryption menu to encrypt/sign it.  Then
you select send.  You give the program the name of the file, who it goes to, and
a subject.  I have a script which dials the system, and uploads the mail  with-
out me being there.

The benefits are that the plaintext never spends time on the mainframe, and you
control the keys.

I have a few features to add.  I want to add multiple-hosts capability, aliases,
and automatic encryption. 

I'm writing this sytem in 4dos batch language and telix communication scripts.
I'm doing it this way because it's a great developement language with lots of
high-lever tools.  I'm quite prowd of how it's working.  I'm also thinking of
porting it to C.

> Does anyone have any experience/advice w/ this tpye of large scale
> implementation of PGP? I know the need to encrypt most of the messages
> will be small, but I think it is important to get these people so
> familar w/ encryption, they won't be scared and will defend it when
> the need arises.

I agree totally!  This is important.
+-----------------------+-----------------------------+---------+
| J. Michael Diehl ;-)  | I thought I was wrong once. | PGP KEY |
|                       |    But, I was mistaken.     |available|
|                       +-----------------------------+---------+
| mdiehl@triton.unm.edu | "I'm just looking for the opportunity |
| mike.diehl@fido.org   | to be Politically Incorrect!   <Me>   |
| (505) 299-2282        |                                       |
+-----------------------+---------------------------------------+

If at all possible, I recommend using the Key Servers for Key
Distribution...  It already solves the key distribution problem not
only on your own network, but around the world...  No reason to
re-invent the wheel...

Enjoy!

-derek