SingTel customers first to enjoy free access to MobileM@il
ConvergenceAsia Staff
19/06/2007

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has announced that it is the first operator in Asia Pacific to offer free 'push' email to its mobile postpaid customers. The service, called MobileM@il, is the first advertising-based mobile email service that will deliver real-time email for the mass market.

The underlying technology used by SingTel for MobileM@il is developed by Consilient, a software company. Consilient's software, Push, contains an advertising capability that serves a minimal number of text and graphical ads side-by-side with subscribers' email messages.

Care has been taken to place the advertisements in such a way that they will be unobtrusive and not break the flow of the email messages. Quek Peck Leng, SingTel Mobile's CEO, said, "SingTel has been looking at opportunities to increase the value and functionality of its mobile service, and email is the next logical step due to its widespread usage. Moreover, mobile users are already accustomed to using their mobile phones to send and receive text messages."

MobileM@il allows users to manage their email profile and set up multiple email accounts on their mobile phone. They can have their emails automatically 'pushed' from their SingNet, Yahoo!, Gmail and Hotmail accounts. The service allows them to receive, forward, insert and save attachments as well as save their contacts in a local address book.

This advertising-led service, said Quek, is an innovative way of allowing mobile customers to stay in touch via email while on the go.

To sign-up for the free MobileM@il service, customers can visit any SingTel outlet, visit SingTel's IDEAS WAP portal, dial *EMAIL from their mobile phone, or contact the customer service hotline by dialling 1626. A later release of the service will be available for customers who prefer a paid MobileM@il service that does not feature any advertising.

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