Texting Obsession: Phones Offer Full Keypads

By Broadside Style Editor Emily Sharrer.

Omg, wtf? It seems like texting lingo has nearly made constructing real sentences obsolete. More and more people are carrying out conversations completely over text message making the art of talking on the telephone a thing of the past. Between Jan. 1 and June 30, over 384 billion text messages were sent according to carriers, compared to only 295 billion voice calls. According to CTIA, the International Association for Wireless Telecommunications Industry, that is 22 billion more text messages than were reported for all of 2007.

In response to the massive number of texts being sent, AT&T has just announced the release of a new line of four new text-message centric phones that make the lives of college students that much easier. According to an AT&T press release, all four of the company’s new phones feature full QWERTY keypads to make sending text, picture, video and instant messages quick and easy.

Already available for $79.99 is the Pantech Matrix, a phone with a dual-sliding, double-keypad design, similar to AT&T’s Pantech Duo smartphone. In late October, the Samsung Propel, a square sliding phone available in blue, green, red and white, will be the next release in the new phone line. The Pantech Slate, the world’s thinnest device with a full QWERTY keypad will also be available later this month for $49.99. Finally, a touch screen slider called the AT&T Quickfire will round out the line when it becomes available in November for $99.99. All four phones come with a two-year agreement.

"This new line of mobile phones will be a hit with both the text messaging generation and users who want to more easily use other functions on their phone," said Carlton Hill, vice president of Devices and Product Development for AT&T's wireless operations in the release. "For a lot of reasons, more buttons are better."

According to the release, a new Nielsen study found that some U.S. consumers are using their cell phones for text messaging more than for normal calls. Also, AT&T reports that text messaging has tripled compared to the same period in 2007.

“These phones are perfect for our customers who want a full keypad to help their fingers fly faster when they send messages but don't need corporate e-mail access or other smartphone features," said Mark Collins, vice president of Consumer Products for AT&T's wireless unit.