The Best Phones for Texting

By Sascha Segan

Today's students don't e-mail as much as they text and IM. Just like with e-mail, texting goes best on a phone with a full QWERTY keyboard – one tap is always better than three. But where e-mail often demands the power of a smartphone, text-happy phones exist in a middle space between basic, voice only devices and the more expensive, highly configurable smartphones. So before heading back to school, it's good idea to consider a more messaging-friendly handset.

But first, a warning for parents. If you intend to buy your kid a text-happy phone, make sure to get an unlimited SMS add-on plan. Otherwise, your wallet could literally ignite.

Almost all phones can do SMS texting, whether to other cell-phones or to e-mail addresses. Instant messaging, on the other hand, isn't quite as universal – not only do you have to make sure your phone supports the IM service you prefer, you'll probably need to rearrange your AOL buddy list because of an obnoxious bug/feature in most mobile AIM clients that limits them to displaying your "Mobile" category only. One way to get around this is to manually move your contacts into your AIM Mobile folder on the PC. Also remember that on many devices, IMs are charged as text messages – so get that unlimited SMS plan!

The most basic text-centric phone is... (More)

From PCMag.com

The Cingular 8125 is a solidly built phone with a similar design to the T-Mobile MDA. It works well for Web browsing and e-mail, but what about its reception? Get the lowdown in Read Complete Article

The Rearview Mirror HandsFree Car Kit (MHF-R220BT) is a wireless device that utilises the latest Bluetooth* technology to communicate with your compatible phone within a 10-metre range. This allows you to talk through its built-in high quality loudspeaker and external high sensitivity microphone without the need to hold the phone or take your hands off the steering wheel.
 

So easy to install, just plug into your vehicles lighter socket and simply clip the MHF-R220BT unit over the existing Rearview mirror and once set up, you will be able to answer, end, reject, redial, place calls or adjust the loudspeaker volume by the simple press of a button, wherever your phone is in your car- there is no need to even remove your phone from your pocket or purse.

The MHF-R220BT also supports voice dialling** which enables you to dial your favourite contacts without the need to touch the phone and allow you to remain concentrated on safely driving your car.

Notes:
*Bluetooth wireless technology is an international standard for short range wireless communication. It allows you to establish a wireless connection within a range of 10 metres between your MHF-R220BT and a compatible device.  Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG Inc.

**Functions only with mobile phones with voice dialling capability. Read Complete Article 

by Roman Friedrich, Johannes Bussmann, Olaf Acker, and Niklas Dieterich

Mobile payments -- which turn cell phones into portable one-step payment devices that transform the shopping experience and the credit industry -- are taking off in Japan and elsewhere in Asia, but they face an uphill battle in the United States and Europe. The reasons for the lag lie in the differences among markets. In Japan, NTT DoCoMo, the leading wireless carrier, is dominant enough to impose its m-payments system from the top down. But in the U.S. and Europe, no single telephone company has the power of DoCoMo. That means that carriers have to forge relationships with all stakeholders -- gear makers, credit card companies, banks, and retailers -- who in turn shoulder more of the challenge of bringing m-payments to life.

Resilience Report is a monthly update on business complexity and strategy-based transformation. An exclusive service for readers of strategy+business, it offers original research, case studies, and other intellectual capital from s+b and Booz Allen Hamilton. Read Complete Article

Art Kleiner
Editor-in-Chief
strategy+business