TeleFlip is a service that allows all mobile phones to receive e-mail, calendar alerts, and online content feeds. The service is free and consumers will be able to receive up to 5,000 e-mails from any e-mail account to any mobile phone regardless of their wireless carrier or mobile handset.

What makes TeleFlip unique is that it doesn’t require any special hardware to configure or software to install. To use the service, you add your mobile phone number and e-mail address at the TeleFlip Web site. The TeleFlip system then delivers your emails to your phone thereby eliminating the complexities associated with receiving e-mails through a carrier’s network.

Some of the specifics of TeleFlip include:

• The service is free. Users can “TeleFlip” up to 5,000 messages monthly.
• No hardware, software, or specialized service needed.
• TeleFlip is compatible with all existing mobile handsets and every wireless network provider.
• Compatible with every e-mail program or service. E-mail messages from any e-mail program and any Web-based e-mail service can be “flipped” to a user’s existing mobile device.
• TeleFlip users can also “reply” to e-mail messages directly from their mobile phones.

“TeleFlip is revolutionizing mobile communications by bridging the Internet and mobile messaging networks,” said Tony Davis, Chief Executive Officer, TeleFlip. “Now anyone, from soccer moms to CEOs, can stay connected to friends, family and colleagues regardless of their mobile handset or level of technical ability.”

TeleFlip is free and it remains unclear how they will monetize their service. Carriers are making loads of money from all the SMS fees incurred by users and TeleFlip does not get any of this as I understand it. Contextual advertising may work with the service if TeleFlip decides to insert ads into messages. Another method may be premium accounts that allow users to customize certain features. Perhaps we will learn more in March when the service is launched.

TeleFlip was announced at the DEMO 07 conference and will launch throughout the U.S., Canada and Western Europe in March 2007. Worldwide rollout plans for TeleFlip will be announced later in the year.

TeleFlip