Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) today 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 a advertising-based mobile email service that will deliver real-time email for the mass market.

The underlying technology used by SingTel for MobileMail is developed by Consilient, a leading 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.

MobileMail 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.

To sign-up for the free 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 dialing 1626.  A later release of the service will be available for customers who prefer a paid service that does not feature any advertising.