diff --git a/i3pystatus/mail/__init__.py b/i3pystatus/mail/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a141a29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/i3pystatus/mail/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+
+from i3pystatus import SettingsBase, IntervalModule
+
+class Backend(SettingsBase):
+    """Handle the details of checking for mail"""
+
+    unread = 0
+    """Return number of unread mails
+
+    You'll probably implement that as a property"""
+
+class Mail(IntervalModule):
+    settings = ("backends", "color",)
+    required = ("backends",)
+
+    def run(self):
+        unread = sum(lambda backend: backend.unread, self.backends)
+
+        if (unread == 0):
+            color = "#00FF00"
+            urgent = "false"
+        else:
+            color = "#ff0000"
+            urgent = "true"
+
+        self.output = {
+            "full_text" : "%d new email%s" % (unread, ("s" if unread > 1 else "")),
+            "name" : "newmail",
+            "urgent" : urgent,
+            "color" : color
+        }