Nextel Communications has launched a wireless e-mail service for Java-enabled phones called Mobile Email Enhanced. It is based on white label push-mail and data synchronization vendor Visto’s synchronization platform..

Mobile Email Enhanced pairs ConstantSync, Visto’s technology, with an on-the-phone application to provide real-time access to e-mail, contact lists, and calendars. As with Research In Motion’s BlackBerry solution, the service pushes data to a phone without user intervention. It is compatible with Microsoft Outlook, IBM Lotus Notes and most Internet e-mail accounts.

Nextel’s e-mail offering is available on all Java-based Nextel phones, including the recently released Motorola i605, i836, i355 and i275. Small business users download and install the Nextel Desktop Assistant without the need of an e-mail server. Larger businesses and enterprises use the Visto Mobile Enterprise Server provided by Nextel.

Pricing ranges from $15 per month for 2 MB of data access to $30 for an unlimited plan.

Unlike competitor RIM, Redwood Shores, CA based Visto entire existence since 1996 has been as a software platform. As opposed to RIM, Visto licenses its mobile e-mail platform to wireless carriers, such as Nextel, who turn around and sell it under their own brand name.

Additional operators offering Visto powered e-mail and PIM mobile synchronization services in North America, Europe and Asia include Vodafone, AT&T Wireless, Bell Mobility, KPN, Manitoba Telecom Services, Rogers Wireless, SaskTel Mobility, SmarTone and TELUS Mobility.

Visto’s solution works with close to 50 types of handsets running on the Symbian, Palm, Windows Mobile, and J2ME MIDP 2.0 platforms.