"The e-mail message will be destroyed by the e-mail client application whether or not the message has been read," AT&T wrote in the patent application. "Alternatively, if the e-mail message specifies that it should be deleted after it has been read, the e-mail client application will destroy the e-mail message once it has been opened and closed by the recipient. All instances of the e-mail message are deleted from the recipient's computer." http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/att-files-patent-self-destructing-email/2... -- /doka