Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Many of us have company issued cellphones that are, well, dumb.  They can’t do much other than operate like a tin can on a string.  Or can they?

3 programs set out to turn your dumb phone into a smartphone (or at least as far as email is concerned).  Check these three offerings from Google, Yahoo and Teleflip.  All free, each unique and each with their drawbacks.

Gmail - You’ve heard the buzz, maybe even you have a Gmail account.  If you do, you should check out Gmail mobile.  This java app allows you to (rather quickly, comparatively) check your mail, respond, create, star messages, and even open some attachments just like you would on the full blown app.  It is a handy program that I use often.  It’s drawbacks? It is java so no Verizon phones work (Verizon subscribers can go to the online gmail mobile site, but it is not as fast or feature rich), you have to actively go check it, unlike push email.

Yahoo - Yahoo Go offers more features but on less compatible phones.  Like Gmail you can access your address books and use the email features in the clean interface.  But Yahoo Go takes it further and allows your phone to get email for you, regularly like a Blackberry. Yahoo’s drawbacks?  Most compatible phones are already smartphones, so it duplicating what is already built into the phone; and no Verizon…

Teleflip -  Now here is something unique.  It works with any phone from any carrier (as long as you can receive text messages- and can cover the cost of them).  This service takes your emails and sends them to you via text message.  Yes, it shortens them up as there is a limit of characters in a text mail and yes you can specify whose message get texted to you.  You can send replies via text as well and your recipients get them as a normal looking email; not even knowing how techy you are…  Drawbacks?  Get an unlimited text plan.  Not as slick as the other options, but it works.

Read [NYTimes]