Is it possible to send an email via telephone

Asks JacksonC

A. Yes, it is possible if you have an Amstrad emailer plus phone.

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Q. What is this

A. It is basically a digital telephone, with a keypad and a screen attached to it - which allows you to email, use the Internet and play some games on it - while still performing like a normal voice phone when you want it to.

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Q. How many email addresses can you have with one phone

A. It allows you to have a maximum of eight email addresses.

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Q. What other benefits does it offer

A. It has loads of additional extras, these include:

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(a) Ability to send SMS text messages (although you can't receive them) of up to 120 characters

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(b) In-built smartcard for online secure credit card transactions

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(c) Telephone answering machine

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(d) Ability to send electronic greetings cards in full colour

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(e) Ability to send fax messages

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(f) Ability to send email with voice and graphic attachments

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(g) Notification of new email in your account, with red flashing light on the phone

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(h) Address book for a maximum of 700 addresses

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(i) Hands-free speakerphone

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Q. What system does it use for Internet connection

A. It uses Microsoft's Mobile Internet Explorer (same system used on 3G mobile phones), which is designed to display low graphic content sites. The emailer plus comes complete with a small mono screen - so although it allows you to open any website, the quality of the screen download may be poorer than that received on a PC.

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Q. What type of games can you play online

A. This machine gives you access to a library of online games from Sinclair ZX Spectrum, which includes old classics like Chuckie Egg! It is quite easy to download from the games menu, and each game is downloaded separately and stored on the emailer plus for a fixed time period, and you are charged for the amount of time you have the game on your machine.

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The cost of downloading a game and its expiry time is shown on the games menu. For example, one game can cost 12p per hour or you can get a special deal of 50p for three days for one game, and you can download several games at once. Game charges are applied directly to your phone bill and a parental lock is built-in to prevent unauthorised use.

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Q. Can I access my existing email account (which I use on a PC) from the Amstrad emailer phone

A. No, you have to set up a new email account, using its Amserve software.

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Q. Is there a registration fee and unmetered access, and if not how much does it cost to send an email

A. There is no registration fee, and no unmetered access unfortunately. What happens is that you pay a connection fee every time you send an email or text message, which is typically 12p each connection and then you pay a local call rate for the length of time you're on the phone. This is a more expensive way of sending email than if you were to use a PC, but is the same as using your mobile phone for a similar function.

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Q. Is its credit card paying system secure

A. The emailer plus uses Secure Socket Level (SSL) and Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS) for any Internet transactions - this is the same open standard used over the Internet.

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However, it has included a smartcard slot or reader on the side of the machine which has hardware interface and hardware layer EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa payments) driver software that facilitates communication with a smart chip card - this offers higher levels of security and authentication.

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This system of card authentication is being used in Europe, and has yet to be introduced in the UK, but when it is you'll automatically be able to use it on the emailer plus phone.

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Q. Do any other accessories come with this machine

A. There are some accessories e.g. a black and white printer, a pocket docket (address book and calculator) and smart media cards (for data storage and additional memory). These can all be bought online; more details are available from www.amstrad.com

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Q. How much does the emailer plus cost

A. It retails at approximately �100 and is available in any high street electronics shop.

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By Karen Anderson