Three SMTP server smtp-mbb.three.co.uk stopped working

I have used the 3 (Three) mobile provided smtp server " smtp-mbb.three.co.uk " for about 9 months with my Sony Ericsson k530i to use "legacy" POP3 e-mail accounts.

I've been on the Internet for more than a decade and I've collected a few e-mail accounts with different dial up providers as the deals changed.

For the last 5 years or so I've kept them going by making a dial up connection every couple of months and using ISP provided smtp accounts.

This worked with 3 as well as they had a little known SMTP server ( smtp-mbb.three.co.uk ) however some time in early November 2009 I noticed it had stopped working.

After an hour of customer services web chat (it's better than the call centre - trust me !) I got to what seems to be the bottom of the matter, smtp-mbb.three.co.uk is no longer available.

There are other work arounds (using google mail to send for example) but it's not as good.

It is irritating that Three will sell handsets with built in e-mail but stop you using the feature.

I'm afraid that, although it may seem a minor loss of facility in what is still an attractive overall offer, I'm considering other options.

If another network offered, say, 1GB of data on a phone with no time limit for, say £10, with a SMTP server I would be off.

So far only Vodafone offer data which doesn't expire and they haven't had the sense to make the same available on a phone.

I watch the market for developments.