E-mailer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The E-mailer (often stylized as E-m@iler) is a device made by Amstrad. It is essentially a telephone with an LCD screen and limited Internet dialup and email messaging capabilities. Later models (the E-m@iler Plus and E3 Superphone) are notable for including the ability to play ZX Spectrum videogames, leveraging Amstrad's previous experience manufacturing Spectrum models.
The 'pay as you use' business model that the E-mailer is based on is controversial, and favours Amstrad heavily. Internet and email access are made via a premium-line phone number, so frequent automatic checking of email is expensive. Sending SMS texts and downloading ringtones or games are also charged for, similar to cellphone operator schemes. This has received criticism, and was unpopular.[1] The phone also included advertising on its screen.[2] The unpopularity of the phone led to losses at Amstrad's Amserve company.[3][4]
[edit] References
- ^ Amstrad Emailer 1000 review
- ^ AOL to become the latest big name to advertise on the Amstrad em@iler superphone, press release, 10 September 2003.
- ^ Amstrad CEO resigns over Sir Sugar's emailer obsession, Kieren McCarthy, The Register, 2 October 2001.
- ^ Amstrad still losing money on the e-m@iler, Graeme Wearden, ZDnet, 25 September 2003.
