Mail+GPRS on Three

Looking for a way to get your mail, for free, while travelling?

On X-series able mobiles (they may have expanded this to all Three mobiles), you get free "3mail", even if you're not subscribed to X-series. Your address is firstname.lastname@three.com.au.

Three lets you check your "3mail" for free. Mail sent is included in your cap. Your phone accesses this mail using POP3 or IMAP.

So, it occurred to me, why not redirect your normal mail to your "3mail", and use GPRS to download your mail?

I'm assuming your laptop is talking to your phone properly. I.e, it's recognised correctly as a modem, over a cable or bluetooth.

  • Edit the modem settings. Add the init string: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","3services"
  • Create a new dial-up connection
  • Phone number: *99#
  • Username, password: both blank.

And here's the settings to give your mail client:

  • Mail server: mail.three.net.au
  • SMTP Server: smtp.three.net.au
  • Port IMAP: 143; POP3: 110

Apparently you can get access to Planet Three in your web browser (http://three.net.au/default) if you change your User Agent to a Three-supported phone; e.g. "DopodD810".

Bingo. Free roaming email. There is a catch though -- the maximum mail size appears to be around 64K.