IE Bar, Tray, Please Bid or Comment!

I am looking to develop an application that can be downloaded by multiple users from a web site. The basis of the application is to be a gateway for encrypted or secure communication across the internet using POST, GET or Socket?? The basis of the requirement is to send small messages back to the server which include an account number and password embedded. The client gateway application should ideally run in the system tray. Communication with other desktop applications on the PC clients side should be via COM plugins, I would ideally enable communications with the following applications. IE toolbar / Outlook 2000+ Toolbar installed by user via activeX control. Pulldown buttons with linked menus Button graphics, titles and pulldown menus. Must be updateable using a VB COM-Addin. These links should be able to be updated via text file,xml or other method accessed on startup through the gateway. Outlook Express I have a DLL & sourcecode purchased that subclasses hooks for the toolbar, I would like limited functionality to connect to the gateway and give similar access to Outlook. If when any of the client applications connect there is a later version of the client available, the clients should be given the option off upgrade. As part of the project I will need to have a Web server application built, my coding knowledge is primarily VB so I would like to have access to update the server if required. I would be interested in understanding limitations if any of building the server in VB. Open for questions or thoughts.. ## Deliverables 1) Complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done. 2) Installation package that will install the software (in ready-to-run condition) on the platform(s) specified in this bid request. 3) Complete ownership and distribution copyrights to all work purchased. ## Platform Win32