The Best Phones for Text Messaging

First things first; you're going to need the right service plan if you intend to text a lot. All the major carriers sell various buckets of messages costing from $5 to $20 per month; if you're a mad texter, though, an unlimited plan is the way to go. Also, some carriers charge IMs as text messages, too, so double-check before you sign up. If you intend to IM and e-mail, you'll need a data plan; depending on your carrier, that could be an extra $5 to $25 a month. You can hit Twitter and Facebook from the WAP browsers included on almost all phones nowadays, but that also requires a data plan.

The Best Phones for Texting By Carrier:

Alltel:
LG 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

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 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

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:
RIM 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:
LG 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:
Palm 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.