Here’s some information on ifbyphone, a service that brings email to people that either can’t use or don’t have access to a computer.

According to an email that I received: Using ifbyphone, one can retrieve and send Email, access websites, and perform Internet searches – all by voice from any phone. Additional features include wake-up, reminder, and Email alert calls,
chat rooms and games – including Texas Hold-em poker. No computer is needed – ifbyphone can supply Email accounts as well.   

One feature that I thought was particularly interesting was ifbyphone’s capability to “scan deep”. You can set the ifbyphone personalization feature to “set up our system to scan deep into your unread email messages every 15 minutes to check for a specific email address, word or phrase. When that email arrives, ifbyphone will call you wherever you are and read it to you.”

Consumer plans range in price from $6.95 to $19.95 a month, and small business plans range from $29.95 to $399.95. All plans include VoMail, VoPlace, VoMe and Extras.

According to the ifbyphone site:
Our industry leading email service provides access to any email account from a plain old telephone. Any telephone. No equipment to purchase. No software to load. Just call our toll free number and your virtual assistant will read you your email. Do you know someone without a computer. No problem. You can sign up for an ifbyphone email account over the telephone at (877) 295-5100. We will provide you a special email account that does not require a computer where you can do everything over the telephone. While other companies may provide one or more of the services we offer, ifbyphone provides you with access to a complete family of expanding services at the lowest prices in the industry designed specifically for consumers and small business. ifbyphone is the world’s first voice-based social network.