SmarTone Mobile Communications launched a new mobile e-mail service yesterday, the fourth operator in Hong Kong to introduce similar services.
Called 'email on the go', the service works on general packet radio services (GPRS) and circuit switched data (CSD) on SmarTone's global system for mobile communications (GSM) network.
Users can manage one corporate e-mail account and up to 10 POP3 e-mail accounts over their wireless application protocol-enabled handsets or personal digital assistants. Subscribers can use their regular e-mail addresses when they send or reply e-mails.
The service allows automatic and remote synchronisation of e-mails, calendars and contact details in the users' desktop mail software - either Microsoft Outlook/Exchange or IBM's Lotus Notes. It supports Chinese text in both simplified and traditional character sets.
SmarTone's chief executive Douglas Li said: 'All actions made through your mobile phones - including receiving, sending and deleting e-mails - will be simultaneously updated on the desktop of your PC.'
In February, Sunday Communications launched real-time mobile e-mail services with wireless data communications provider Leadtone Wireless. The service, called Push Email, runs on the short messaging layer of a GSM network. Sunday's users can check and send e-mails using either Handspring's Treo or the mainland-made Amoisonic A8. Users are charged HK$2 per one kilobyte e-mail. However, Sunday customers must redirect their e-mail to the Leadtone server while e-mail sent from the devices must carry Leadtone addresses.
'Their service has little usage. It creates much confusion and inconsistency for the recipients,' Mr Li said.
