3 pushes email to customers

3 Mobile may not be the first choice for many business users, but that hasn't stopped the company from launching a new push email service for those who need their messages on the move.

Email on 3 supports Microsoft Outlook accounts, as well as a range of web-based email services including Windows Live, Yahoo, Gmail and a selection of local ISP accounts. New messages from up to six of your email accounts are pushed to your handset so that you receive them as you would already receive SMS messages.

Most of the hard work has been taken out of email set-up. Similar to the set-up on Windows Mobile 6.1 devices, you only need to input your address and password and the client auto fills the necessary account details to receive your messages.

3's marketing materials tell us that "you don't need a smartphone..." to use email on 3, but the accompanying list of compatible devices shows only one compatible non-smartphone, 3's own INQ1. The rest of the list is made up almost entirely of Nokia Series 60 and Windows Mobile devices. A spokesperson for 3 has confirmed that more handsets are being added to the compatibility list, but couldn't confirm which devices would be next.

Email on 3 costs AU$5 per month on any contract, or is available as part of any of the company's X-Series data services. Of course, email is free to set up on all the phones listed by 3, albeit, without the convenience of push email. A list of the handsets compatible with 3's email can be found on the 3 Mobile website.