PocketMail

[footslogger]

Considering PocketMail. Can you only receive e-mail that is addressed to your ****.pocketmail.com account ?? or can you access a yahoo e-mail account ?

[chai guy]

I don't think so, though you should be able to fwd your yahoo account to your pocket mail address.

I didn't have the pocket mail. I looked into it and wasn't all that impressed.

I don't like devices that don't have removable memory. With Pocket Mail, once the hardware device fails (and they often did on the trail), you loose all the data on the device.

The fact that they are headquartered in Australia makes dispute resolution difficult.

For not a whole lot more than Pocket Mail, you can pick up a BlackBerry type device with a data only plan to send and receive email (as well as browse the web).

Better Yet (cheaper and lighter!) you can get Earthlink Email by Phone, for just $5.00 a month (cancel any time) and it weighs NOTHING!

Here's how it works. Once you set up your account, they give you a 1 800 number. You can dial that number from any phone anywhere (including pay phones), and access your email. They have a computer voice that "reads" your email to you. You can then respond to the email by recording your voice, which is then sent as an mp3 or wav file to the email box of the person you're responding to. People can also call your mail box and leave you voice mails. You can update your outgoing message telling everyone your next town stop and where you are and how you're doing.

It's a great way to keep everyone up to date on your progress, and keep in touch with all your friends without spending a fortune in calling cards. Plus it weighs nothing! Ultra-light!

http://www.earthlink.net/dialup/extras/ebp/