Best Mobile Phones for Text Messaging
Text messaging is one of the hottest and biggest things ever and growing everyday. According to the wireless industry trade association (CTIA), more than 600 billion text messages were sent within the U.S. in 2008. These figures are astounding and do not include, Instant messaging, emailing via mobile phones and Twittering from mobile phones.If you plan to do a lot of text messaging, then you need to make sure and get the right plan with your mobile phone. Most mobile phone carriers provide bulk plans and pay per message plans. If you plan to text a lot you will save lots of dough, by choosing the text plan that fits your needs, including paying a bit extra for an
unlimited package, which will save lots of money in the long run. Usually, unless, you text only a couple of messages a month, the most costly option is to pay-per-text message.These bulk packages are available for mobile prepaid phone plans as well, Virgin Mobile, for example, offers a large variety of text message packs, well suited for a variety of needs.
IM and email are not included in these plans, those require a data plan, so make sure to research your carriers options, if those are necessity for you.
CNET did a full review of the best texting phones and here is what they say:
Alltel:
Alltel LG Scoop AX260 : FrontLG Scoop AX260
The cute little LG Scoop AX260 is a terrific value: It's got strong voice quality, a full keyboard, and an excellent $3-per-month e-mail client that even supports Microsoft Exchange.
AT&T:
Pantech Slate C530 (AT&T) : AnglePantech Slate C530
The Pantech Slate C530 is the best texting phone for AT&T. The Slate's roomy, clicky keyboard is one of the finest we've seen in ages, and it makes both texting and e-mailing a breeze. AT&T's e-mail program is more restrictive than we'd like, but it does support AOL, Microsoft Live, and Yahoo e-mail.
Cricket and MetroPCS:
Samsung Messager SCH-R450 : AngleSamsung Messager R450
The Samsung Messager R450 is the best choice for texting on either of these low-cost carriers, and one of the most full-featured, too, with removable memory, an MP3 player, and a 2-megapixel camera. But its main strength is its comfortable keyboard for texting and e-mailing.
Sprint:
Samsung Rant : OpenSamsung Rant
Despite its name, we like the Samsung Rant for texting on Sprint. It's more capable than the competing LG Rumor, and more comfortable than the LG Lotus. It's got an outstanding keyboard and screen, 3G for quick Internet access, and even support for Microsoft Exchange when you use Sprint's downloadable e-mail program.
T-Mobile:
Blackberry PearlRIM BlackBerry Pearl 8100
T-Mobile is short on texting phones, and we haven't yet reviewed the Samsung Gravity, the only texter in the carrier's lineup right now. But that's okay, because T-Mobile is selling the excellent BlackBerry Pearl 8100 at a deep discount. When you hear "BlackBerry," you might think "work," but there are plenty of people out there using their Pearls just as supercharged SMS devices. They work great—and there's also room to download apps and e-mail.
Verizon:
Keypad OpenLG enV2 VX9100
Get the LG enV2 VX9100 if you're a heavy texter on Verizon Wireless. This little phone has a very neat design: It looks like a standard phone at first, and then you flip it open to reveal the big keyboard inside. It's a solid voice phone, and has a full array of multimedia features, including a 2-megapixel camera. But it's best at being a sleek little texting beast.
Multiple Carriers:
AnglePalm Centro
If you can stand its tiny keyboard, you'll find there's a lot to like about the inexpensive Palm Centro, which you can pick up on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, for less than $50. The Centro's threaded text messaging makes SMS conversations look like IMs, pulling multiple messages written by the same person onto one screen. The phone has a robust Web browser, and thousands of third-party programs are available, too. Even if you're not interested in smartphones, it's worth a look.
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