diff --git a/includes/simplenews.admin.inc b/includes/simplenews.admin.inc
index 1ed89b7..8df9bd0 100644
--- a/includes/simplenews.admin.inc
+++ b/includes/simplenews.admin.inc
@@ -1332,7 +1332,7 @@ function simplenews_admin_settings_newsletter($form, &$form_state) {
     '#description' => t('These options will be the defaults for new newsletters, but can be overridden in the newsletter editing form.'),
   );
   $description = t('Default newsletter format.');
-  if (!module_exists('mimemail')) {
+  if (!simplenews_html_transmitter_modules()) {
     $description .= ' ' . t('Install <a href="!mime_mail_url">Mime Mail</a> module or <a href="!html_url">HTML Mail</a> module to send newsletters in HTML format.',
                             array('!mime_mail_url' => 'http://drupal.org/project/mimemail', '!html_url' => 'http://drupal.org/project/htmlmail')
                           );
diff --git a/includes/simplenews.mail.inc b/includes/simplenews.mail.inc
index 1506284..5162fef 100644
--- a/includes/simplenews.mail.inc
+++ b/includes/simplenews.mail.inc
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ function simplenews_mail_mail($msgbase, $key = 'node') {
     // Optional params for Mime Mail.
     $params['plain'] = $params['context']['category']->format == 'plain' ? TRUE : NULL;
     // @todo Create the plaintext portion of the message, we don't have $message['body'] here.
-    // $params['plaintext'] = $params['plain'] ? $message['body'] : simplenews_html_to_text($message['body'], TRUE);
+    //$params['plaintext'] = $params['plain'] ? $message['body'] : simplenews_html_to_text($message['body'], TRUE);
     // @todo Get the attachments. Upload module no longer exists for Drupal 7.
     // $params['attachments'] = isset($params['context']['node']->files) ? $params['context']['node']->files : array();;
 
diff --git a/simplenews.install b/simplenews.install
index 9857024..b183d11 100644
--- a/simplenews.install
+++ b/simplenews.install
@@ -341,6 +341,16 @@ function simplenews_install() {
   _simplenews_install_nodetype();
 }
 
+/*
+ * Enable plaintext widget module if there are any
+ * HTML mail transmission modules available.
+ */
+function simplenews_enable() {
+  if (simplenews_html_transmitter_modules()) {
+    module_enable(array('simplenews_plaintext'));
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Implement hook_uninstall().
  */
diff --git a/simplenews.module b/simplenews.module
index 30841f4..bf3eaeb 100644
--- a/simplenews.module
+++ b/simplenews.module
@@ -662,13 +662,23 @@ function simplenews_get_category_field($bundle_name) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Implementation of hook_form_FORM_ID_alter().
+ * Implements hook_form_FORM_ID_alter().
  *
  * Add checkbox to the content type form to use the content type as newsletter.
+ * Add Selectbox for plaintext field selection.
  */
 function simplenews_form_node_type_form_alter(&$form, $form_state) {
-  // Add option to use content type as simplenews newsletter.
-  $form['workflow']['simplenews_content_type'] = array(
+
+  $form['simplenews'] = array(
+    '#type' => 'fieldset',
+    '#title' => 'Newsletter',
+    '#collapsible' => TRUE,
+    '#collapsed' => FALSE,
+    '#group' => 'additional_settings',
+  );
+  
+  // Add option to use content type as simplenews newsletter.  
+  $form['simplenews']['simplenews_content_type'] = array(
     '#type' => 'checkbox',
     '#title' => t('Use as simplenews newsletter'),
     '#default_value' => variable_get('simplenews_content_type_' . $form['#node_type']->type, 0),
@@ -1838,7 +1848,6 @@ function simplenews_recent_newsletters($tid, $count = 5) {
  */
 function simplenews_mail($key, &$message, $params) {
   $params['key'] = $key;
-
   switch ($key) {
     case 'node':
     case 'test':
@@ -1956,24 +1965,17 @@ function simplenews_build_node_mail(&$message, $params) {
 //         i18n_selection_mode('node', $node->language);
 //    }
 
-    // Build message body
-// @todo move this code to a function. We need to do this twice for HTML and Plain text Alternative.
-    // @todo restore the format selection.
-    //$build = node_view($node, 'email_' . $category->format);
-    // Supported view modes: 'email_plain', 'email_html', 'email_textalt'
-    $build = node_view($node, 'email_plain');
-    // @todo Use simplenews_newsletter_body as #theme?
-    unset($build['#theme']);
-    foreach (element_children($build) as $child) {
-      $build[$child]['#theme'] = 'simplenews_field';
-    }
-// END move this code to a function.
-
+    $build = simplenews_build_message_body($category->format, $node);
     $body = theme('simplenews_newsletter_body', array('build' => $build, 'category' => $category, 'language' => $message['language']));
-
     // Buffer body text node and language specific
     $messages[$nid][$langcode]['body'] = $body;
 
+    /*
+    $plain_build = simplenews_build_message_body('plain');
+    $plain_body = theme('simplenews_newsletter_body', array('build' => $plain_build, 'category' => $category, 'language' => $message['language']));
+    $messages[$nid][$langcode]['plain_body'] = $plain_body;
+    */
+
     // @todo Move hidden footer into preprocess function.
     //      We need to replace this concept. A footer is depending on the subscription list, not anymore on the newsletter category.
     //      In the future this will also depend on whether the receiver is subscribed to a list or not a list member at all.
@@ -2008,21 +2010,66 @@ function simplenews_build_node_mail(&$message, $params) {
     $footer             = $messages[$nid][$langcode]['footer'];
   }
 
-  // Build message body, replace tokens.
-  // Convert to plain text if required.
+  // Build message body, replace tokens. Convert to plain text if required.
+  $field_plaintext = simplenews_get_plaintext_field_name($node->type);
   $message['body']['body'] = token_replace($body, $context, array('sanitize' => FALSE));
-  if ($category->format == 'plain') {
+  if ($category->format == 'plain' && !trim($context['node']->{$field_plaintext}['und'][0]['value'])) {
     module_load_include('inc', 'simplenews', 'includes/simplenews.mail');
     $message['body']['body'] = simplenews_html_to_text($message['body']['body'], $category->hyperlinks);
   }
+  else if ($category->format == 'plain') {
+    $body = theme('simplenews_newsletter_plaintext_body', array('node' => $context['node'], 'plain_field' => $field_plaintext));
+  }
 
   // Build message footer, replace tokens.
   $message['body']['footer'] = token_replace($footer, $context, array('sanitize' => FALSE));
 
+  // Get plaintext text field (i.e. plain text part to be added to multipart with mimemail)
+  if (isset($context['node']->{$field_plaintext}['und'])) {
+    $plain_text = trim($context['node']->{$field_plaintext}['und'][0]['value']) 
+      ? theme('simplenews_newsletter_plaintext_body', array('node' => $context['node'], 'plain_field' => $field_plaintext))
+      : simplenews_html_to_text($message['body']['body'], $category->hyperlinks);
+  }
+  $message['params']['plaintext'] = token_replace($plain_text, $context, array('sanitize' => FALSE));
+
+  // Add cleaned version of footer to plaintext alternative 
+  $message['params']['plaintext'] .= simplenews_html_to_text(token_replace($footer, $context, array('sanitize' => FALSE)));
+  
   // Add user specific header data.
   $message['headers']['List-Unsubscribe'] = '<' . token_replace('[simplenews-subscriber:unsubscribe-url]', $context, array('sanitize' => FALSE)) . '>';
 }
 
+function simplenews_build_message_body($format, $node) {
+  // Build message body
+  // @todo restore the format selection.
+  //$build = node_view($node, 'email_' . $format);
+  $build = node_view($node, 'email_plain');
+
+  // @todo Use simplenews_newsletter_body as #theme?
+  unset($build['#theme']);
+  foreach (element_children($build) as $child) {
+    $build[$child]['#theme'] = 'simplenews_field';
+  }
+
+  return $build;
+  
+  /************ ORIG ********************
+  // Build message body
+  // @todo move this code to a function. We need to do this twice for HTML and Plain text Alternative.
+  // @todo restore the format selection.
+  //$build = node_view($node, 'email_' . $category->format);
+  // Supported view modes: 'email_plain', 'email_html', 'email_textalt'
+  $build = node_view($node, 'email_plain');
+  // @todo Use simplenews_newsletter_body as #theme?
+  unset($build['#theme']);
+  foreach (element_children($build) as $child) {
+    $build[$child]['#theme'] = 'simplenews_field';
+  }
+  /********** /ORIG ***********************/
+}
+
+// END move this code to a function.
+
 /**
  * Build subject and body of the subscribe confirmation email.
  *
@@ -2655,7 +2702,7 @@ function simplenews_format_options() {
   $options = array(
     'plain' => t('plain'),
   );
-  if (module_exists('mimemail') || module_exists('htmlmail')) {
+  if (simplenews_html_transmitter_modules()) {
     $options['html'] = t('html');
   }
   return $options;
@@ -2810,6 +2857,12 @@ function simplenews_theme() {
     'simplenews_field' => array(
       'render element' => 'element',
     ),
+    'simplenews_newsletter_plaintext_body' => array(
+      'variables' => array(
+        'node' => NULL,
+        'plain_field' => NULL,
+      ),
+    ),
   );
 }
 
@@ -2966,6 +3019,12 @@ function template_preprocess_simplenews_newsletter_body(&$variables) {
   unset($variables['build']['links']);
   unset($variables['build']['comments']);
 
+  if ($variables['category']->format == 'html') {
+    // hide the plaintext field for html mails since the plaintext part has it's own theme function
+    $field_plaintext = simplenews_get_plaintext_field_name($variables['build']['#bundle']);
+    hide($variables['build'][$field_plaintext]);
+  }
+
   $variables['title'] = check_plain($variables['build']['#node']->title);
 
   // Add specific suggestions that can override the default implementation.
@@ -3030,6 +3089,21 @@ function theme_simplenews_newsletter_footer($variables) {
   return $output;
 }
 
+/**
+* Theme the newsletter message subject and alternative plaintext body. 
+*/
+function theme_simplenews_newsletter_plaintext_body($variables) {
+  // In an override of this function, $text can be loaded with other field from the node.
+  $text  = $variables['node']->title . "\n\n";
+  if ($variables['plain_field'] == 'body') {
+    $text .= $variables['node']->body['und'][0]['value'] . "\n\n";
+  } 
+  else {
+    $plain = $variables['node']->$variables['plain_field'];
+    $text .= $plain['und'][0]['value'] . "\n\n";
+  }
+  return $text;
+}
 
 /**
  * Helper function to filter checked boxes from form values.
@@ -3345,3 +3419,39 @@ function simplenews_require_double_opt_in($tid, $account) {
     return $category->opt_inout == 'double';
   }
 }
+
+/*
+ * Function either checks if a compatible transmitter
+ * module exists or gets all possible transmitter modules.
+ */
+function simplenews_html_transmitter_modules() {
+  
+  // @todo get this info by a hook that provides info about 
+  // mail transmission modules
+  $transmitters = array(
+    'mimemail',
+    'htmlmail',
+  );
+  
+  foreach($transmitters as $transmitter) {
+    if (module_exists($transmitter)) {
+      return TRUE;
+    }        
+  }
+  return FALSE;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Function gets the fieldname of an optional plaintext field.
+ * 
+ * Note: At the moment only one (the first) plaintext field 
+ * will be detected. 
+ */
+function simplenews_get_plaintext_field_name($bundle) {
+  $fieldinfo = field_info_instances('node', $bundle);
+    foreach($fieldinfo as $field_name => $info) {
+      // check if field has a plaintext_textarea widget
+      if ($info['widget']['type'] != 'plaintext_textarea') continue;
+      else return $info['field_name'];
+    }
+}
diff --git a/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.info b/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.info
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b118a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.info
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+name = Plaintext widget
+description = Defines text field widget type for simplenews plaintext content.
+package = Mail
+core = 7.x
+dependencies[] = simplenews
+;files[] = text.test
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.js b/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82f8e61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+(function ($) {
+
+	// Defines an ajax command to replace content inside 
+	// the plaintext field after serverside processing
+	Drupal.ajax.prototype.commands.replacecontent = function (ajax, response, status) {
+	  $('#' + response.trigger).parent().find('textarea').val(response.plaintext);
+	}
+
+})(jQuery);
diff --git a/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.module b/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.module
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e55bc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/simplenews_plaintext/simplenews_plaintext.module
@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+<?php
+
+
+/**
+ * @file 
+ * 
+ * Defines a text widget for content types that are used as simplenews newsletters.
+ * This can only be used by newsletters that are sent as html mails and use a specified
+ * field for their plaintext content. The widget consists of a textarea and an additional
+ * 'process' button which allows a serverside conversion of the typed text into plaintext.
+ * 
+ * Notes
+ * Don't use "Filtered text" with the plaintext field.
+ * @todo try to avoid "filtered text".
+ * 
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Implements hook_field_widget_info().
+ */
+function simplenews_plaintext_field_widget_info() {
+  
+  return array(
+    'plaintext_textarea' => array(
+      'label' => t('Textarea for Plaintext (multiple rows)'),
+      'field types' => array('text_long'),
+      'settings' => array('rows' => 20),
+    ),
+  );
+}
+
+/*
+ * Implements hook_field_create_instance().
+ * 
+ * Enables the display style 'email_plain' and sets the
+ * display of the created field in 'email_plain' to hidden.
+ */
+function simplenews_plaintext_field_create_instance($instance) {
+  
+  if ($instance['widget']['type'] == 'plaintext_textarea') {
+    $bundle_settings = array(
+      'view_modes' => array(
+        'email_plain' => array('custom_settings' => TRUE),
+      ),
+    );
+    field_bundle_settings('node',  $instance['bundle'], $bundle_settings);
+    
+    $instance['display']['email_plain'] = array(
+      'label' => 'hidden',
+      'type' => 'hidden',
+    );
+    field_update_instance($instance);
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Implements hook_field_widget_settings_form().
+ */
+function simplenews_plaintext_field_widget_settings_form($field, $instance) {
+  
+  $widget = $instance['widget'];
+  $settings = $widget['settings'];
+
+  $form['rows'] = array(
+    '#type' => 'textfield',
+    '#title' => t('Rows'),
+    '#default_value' => $settings['rows'],
+    '#required' => TRUE,
+    '#element_validate' => array('element_validate_integer_positive'),
+  );
+
+  return $form;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Implements hook_field_widget_form().
+ * 
+ * @todo: maybe integrate the elements of the widget into a fieldset for clearer visual presentation
+ */
+function simplenews_plaintext_field_widget_form(&$form, &$form_state, $field, $instance, $langcode, $items, $delta, $element) {
+  
+  $widget = array();
+
+  $widget['value'] = array(
+    '#type' => 'textarea',
+    '#title' => $instance['label'],
+    '#default_value' => isset($items[$delta]['value']) ? $items[$delta]['value'] : NULL,
+    '#rows' => $instance['widget']['settings']['rows'],
+    '#attributes' => array('class' => array('text-full')),
+    '#prefix' => '<div id="plaintext-container">',
+    '#suffix' => '</div>',
+  );
+  
+  /* This doesn't work, had to load the js using hook_preprocess_page() (see code below)
+  $jspath = drupal_get_path('module', 'simplenews_plaintext') . '/simplenews_plaintext.js';
+  $form['#attached']['js'] = array($jspath); || drupal_add_js($jspath, 'file');
+  */
+  
+  $widget['process_trigger'] = array(
+    '#type' => 'submit',
+    '#value' => t('Process'), // @todo maybe give the label a better text
+    '#ajax' => array(
+      'callback' => 'simplenews_plaintext_process_plaintext_value',
+      'progress' => array(
+        'type' => 'bar',
+        'message' => t('Please wait while your text is being processed on the server.')
+      ),
+    ),
+  );
+
+  $widget = $element + $widget;
+
+  return $widget;
+}
+
+function simplenews_plaintext_process_plaintext_value($form, $form_state) {
+ 
+  // build a pseudonode to get all necessary field values
+  $node = $form_state['node'];
+  entity_form_submit_build_entity('node', $node, $form, $form_state);
+  node_submit($node);
+  
+  // gather plaintext values from relevant fields
+  /*
+  // the way miro wanted it to be done, unfortunately 
+  // links like 'edit' or 'delete' get rendered too this way
+  $data = node_view($node, 'email_plain');
+  $text = render($data);
+  */
+  
+  // code below pulls the textdata out of $form_state directly
+  $text = '';
+  $field_types = array('text', 'text_long', 'text_with_summary');
+  foreach($form_state['field'] as $field_name => $field) {
+    // skip empty fields
+    if (!isset($form_state['values'][$field_name]['und'][0]['value']) || empty($form_state['values'][$field_name]['und'][0]['value'])) continue;
+    if (in_array($field['und']['field']['type'], $field_types)
+        && $field['und']['instance']['widget']['type'] != 'plaintext_textarea') {
+      $label = $field['und']['instance']['label'];
+      if (count($form_state['values'][$field_name]['und']) > 1) {
+        $text .= $label . '<br />';
+        foreach($form_state['values'][$field_name]['und'] as $key => $val) {
+          $text .= '<p>' . t('Value') . ' ' . ($key + 1) . '<br />' . $val['value'] . '</p>';
+        }
+      }
+      else {
+        $value = $form_state['values'][$field_name]['und'][0]['value'];
+        if ($field['und']['instance']['display']['email_plain']['label'] != 'hidden') {
+          $text .= '<p>' . $label . '<br />' . $value . '</p>';
+        }
+        else {
+          $text .= '<p>' . $value  . '</p>';
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  
+  // convert html values of fields to plaintext
+  module_load_include('inc', 'simplenews', 'includes/simplenews.mail');
+  $plaintext = simplenews_html_to_text($text);
+
+  // send the plaintext value to a client side js command
+  return array(
+    '#type' => 'ajax',
+    '#commands' => array(
+      array(
+       'command' => 'replacecontent',
+       'plaintext' => $plaintext,
+       'trigger' => $form_state['triggering_element']['#id'],
+      ),
+    ),
+  );
+}
+
+/*
+function simplenews_plaintext_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state, $form_id) {
+  dsm($form_id);
+  //if ($form_id == 'article_node_form') {
+    $form['#after_build'] = array('_simplenews_plaintext_load_js');
+  //}
+}
+
+function _simplenews_plaintext_load_js($element) {
+  $jspath = drupal_get_path('module', 'simplenews_plaintext') . '/simplenews_plaintext.js';
+  drupal_add_js($jspath, 'file');
+  dsm($element);
+  return $element;
+}
+*/
+
+/*
+ * Adds the js to the process_trigger button of the widget.
+ * 
+ * @todo The JS should not be added on this way. Otherwise
+ * the JS gets loaded on every form without plaintext widget
+ * and even on every page without form. Tried to do it in the
+ * simplenews_plaintext_field_widget_form() function with ['#attached']
+ * attribute as well as with drupal_add_js, both cases did not work.
+ * Even tried to load the JS in a corresponding form_alter hook,
+ * which also did not work (see code above).
+ */
+function simplenews_plaintext_preprocess_page(&$variables) {
+  $jspath = drupal_get_path('module', 'simplenews_plaintext') . '/simplenews_plaintext.js';
+  drupal_add_js($jspath, 'file');
+}