I have always seen this menu called 'FastMail Sms' on my phone while browsing MTN Services. Few days back, I decided to give it a try and having read through the instructions via the MTN4U PDF Brochure, I registered (that cost me N50). Though I was amazed by the fast delivery of my email (the service is accessible from any kind of phone regardless of GRPS)the service appears to have more pains than gains.
Below is the outline of what the service is all about:
MTN FastMail: enables sending of sms to email box irrespective of phone type or email server. It is a premium service(?) that delivers sms to emails in matter of seconds. Replies to your emails are delivered directly to your phones, in the MTNFastMail Inbox.
It is like carrying your emails 'Everywhere you go'

Features, Gains And Pains:
- Once registered, a subscriber gets an email address @mtnfastmail.com e.g,
nairaland@mtnfastmail.com- To register, the subscriber sends a text message from his phone in this format: REG username(give space) password(give space)secretquestion(give space)secretanswer; eg REG nairaland 12345 mywebname nairaland; then send to 130.(This costs N25)
- A welcome message is recieved as: Welcome to MTNFastMail. Your MTNFastMail address is
nairaland@mtnfastmail.com- To LOGIN, send LOGIN to 130(This cost N25).
- To check your Inbox, Send INBOX to 130.(another N25)
- To read emails, send s/n(eg send 1, representing message 1) i.e send 1 to 130.(N25 again).This will only display the sender's name and message subject and the you will be asked to send MORE INBOX to 130 (another N25) to read the rest of the message.
- To send email, type a text message in this format: SEND EMAILADDRESS MESSAGE to 130 eg. type: SEND
nairaland@mtnfastmail.com This is to introduce MTNFastMail to members of this forum. send to 130 (N25 charge). You get a report if message is successfully sent.
Whenever you recieve an email, you get an instant notification as: MTNFastMail. You have received an email from
nairaland@mtnfastmail.com(pardon my continous use of nairaland, it's just for explanatory sake). Total message in INBOX is 3. To view your inbox send INBOX to 130...

Using this service for the first time, I sent an email to a friend who was baffled at the service. He quickly replied and bet you, i spent N50 to read his reply which read: 'I received it'

I have assessed this service and have as well as discouraging my friend using it, resolved never to try it again. Imagine how rich Yahoo and MSN would have been if similar billing system is adopted.