T-Mobile may offer free email to G1 owners

[refused9150]

T-Mobile executives are considering offering access to Gmail free, without the need for a data plan. In debate right now is weather to go with an ad-supported service, which would give a part of Google's ad revenue from Gmail to T-Mobile. The other option would be offer Android phone owners a $9 a month for a Gmail data plan. That price being a little steep for only a single email account.

If T-Mobile decides it offer Gmail for free it would already be steps ahead of the Blackberry's $15 a month email plan. Using an ad-supported would not only be a very good option for subscribers, but it would help Google expand its vast advertising business all across mobile phones. The only drawback for T-Mobile is loosing the email subscriptions from Blackberry email services when customers decide to trade in there Curve or Pearl for the Android.

[Via fortune.cnn.com (http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/09/22/t-mobiles-google-phone-may-offer-free-e-mail/)]

[Mr.Duck]

oh god... can we opt not to bother with that and just get a data plan w/ email? so i dont need to deal with stupid ads/spam on my own phone?

[refused9150]

I don't see why it wouldn't be included. I believe it would only be for plans without data included.

[Driguez]

Why would u want this phone without a data plan? Anywho not a bad idea for those chosing not to go w a data plan. The only drawback, no more proxy setting (5.99) internet for me :( lol

[Jorsher]

Why would u want this phone without a data plan? Anywho not a bad idea for those chosing not to go w a data plan. The only drawback, no more proxy setting (5.99) internet for me :( lol

Are you aware of the new proxy-free access point that works with t-zones?

epc.tmobile.com

No more wap.voicestream.com necessary

[mZimm]

I've been using the wap.voicestream.com hack for a while, I hadn't heard of the epc.tmobile.com one, how do I set that up? I would love an ad-supported free gmail on the G1, that would be awesome. I don't need email on my phone, so I wouldn't pay for it, but being able to get it free with some ads would be perfect IMO.

[androidmaddy]

oh god... can we opt not to bother with that and just get a data plan w/ email? so i dont need to deal with stupid ads/spam on my own phone?

I'm sure this will just be an option. Somebody willing to pay for the full data plan will still be able to, and therefore get rid of the ads. But such a plan for those "casual" email users will be awesome. Win win for both users and Google :)

[NetCom]

I do not feel like being advertisement end user who is locked into the advertising of something I did not ask for... Therefore as I mentioned before - I will be getting the data plan no matter what!
Now I will have the reason extra to get data plan :)

[Jorsher]

I've been using the wap.voicestream.com hack for a while, I hadn't heard of the epc.tmobile.com one, how do I set that up? I would love an ad-supported free gmail on the G1, that would be awesome. I don't need email on my phone, so I wouldn't pay for it, but being able to get it free with some ads would be perfect IMO.

Simply remove the proxy settings and change the wap.voicestream.com to epc.tmobile.com.

voila!

I don't know if it works in all areas, but works in mine.

[Deacon]

no ads for me!

[Grayslin]

Data Plan all the way. Ads suck.

[dontlookatme]

the 5.99 data plan is.......what? i'm confused on that one, and is it just t-zones or full internet? or regular internet with no 3g?

[mZimm]

the 5.99 data plan is.......what? i'm confused on that one, and is it just t-zones or full internet? or regular internet with no 3g?
It is just t-zones but if you put in the proxy information or now that new server info in your connection settings it will allow you almost full internet access EDGE only.

[shmokinponcake]

having never owned a smartphone, can someone explain to me why emails are extra when unlimited internet access is part of the deal? i know i'm asking for a noob slap here, so flame away.