America Online has introduced a new e-mail service called AOL by Phone.

The service, enabled by voice recognition technology, allows AOL members to access e-mail by telephone using a toll-free number. Dial in from any phone and you’ll be prompted for a PIN (Personal Identification Number). Any e-mail waiting for you in your AOL e-mail account will then be read to you using text-to-speech technology. You can interrupt at any time with further voice commands.
AOL by Phone is a one-way service. You can receive e-mails but cannot send them. However, AOL by Phone offers a remarkable perk: While you are still connected, AOL by Phone will allow you make a two-minute call for free to any domestic phone number. You need only speak the number you need to call. According to an AOL spokeswoman, this allows customers to respond immediately to important e-mails.
AOL by Phone is free until the end of January. After that it will cost $4.95 a month in addition to regular AOL membership, which can be as little as $4.95 a month for a limited access plan. That means you can have AOL by Phone for less than $10 monthly.
Information is available at the AOL web site (www.aol.com) or you can call 1-800-AOL-1234.