SMS and MMS aren't all that bad, but neither hold a candle to sans-restraints e-mail and instant messaging. Here's how to pick the perfect phone for staying textually in touch on the move.
Man is a social beast; that much, billions of phone calls, text messages, e-mails and instant messages - not to mention old-fashioned conversations - prove every day. Unbeknownst to many phone owners, however, the per-item pricing model for SMS and MMS messages is a virtual goldmine for network operators, whereas e-mail and instant messaging represent far more flexible and considerably cheaper alternatives for end users.
Step away from the SMS
Despite the inefficiency of SMS and MMS, support for both is a requirement for any messaging phone as the vast majority of handset owners still rely on them as their primary method for text communication. Next, ensure the onboard e-mail client handles both POP3 and IMAP4 protocols, picture attachments and offers scheduled retrievals, while MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger should be present for instant messasing. ICQ support would be preferable, while any other protocol should be considered a bonus.
Whether for e-mail or instant messaging, proper integration is key - which means alerts of any and all kinds should run in tandem with handset profiles. Vibrating alerts are of particular importance for instant messaging to avoid pestering yourself and others with repeated audible notifications, while the ability to automatically re-login is a must to avoid dropouts. Rapid access to changing ones presence status is also important, and for bonus points the handset should automatically set you as busy during calls and while the meeting profile is enabled.
Alpha and Omega
Neither of the above will be of any use without a sound alternative for text input, however. While T9 may offer decent performance for light use, a thumbboard is the sole option for heavy messaging users, preferably with predictive text and a wide form factor. Ensure frequently used symbols and characters local to your language are easily accessed and, and that a key lock is in place to avoid accidental presses. On a related note, landscape oriented displays are favoured as they place less of a strain on ones eyes by reducing the frequency with which the eye has to traverse from a line end point to the starting point of the next.
A match made in heaven?
Sadly, the only European handsets to offer built-in instant messaging capabilities are Windows Mobile business phones, which are limited to MSN Messenger. If you don't mind the do-it-yourself approach, we recommend picking up the thumb-a-licious Nokia 9300i and installing a 3rd party client such as Agile Mobile.
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