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October 15, 2008

Harnessing the Popularity of Texting, AT&T Intros Quick-Messaging Mobile Phones

By Anil Sharma, TMCnet Contributing Editor

AT&T (News - Alert) Inc. reportedly has launched a new line of quick-messaging mobile phones.



 
The four new phones include the Pantech Matrix, which is pictured below and available today, the Samsung (News - Alert) Propel and Pantech Slate, which will hit stores later this month, and the AT&T Quickfire, which will come to retail shelves in November.
 
The new phones allow customers to make calls and send text-messages quickly and discreetly, AT&T officials say.
 
According to Carlton Hill, vice president of devices and product development for AT&T’s wireless operations, the phones with text-messaging addicts as well as users who want seeking easier use of other functions on their phone, such as mobile e-mail or Internet searching.
 
“For a lot of reasons, more buttons are better,” Hill said.
 
So-called “QWERTY” keypads on the four phones are designed to help users send text, picture, video and instant messages with ease.
 
All quick messaging phones are compatible with AT&T’s messaging bundles that offer 200, 1,500 and unlimited messaging for $5, $15 and $20 per month, respectively. AT&T FamilyTalk plan customers can get unlimited messaging for all lines for $30. 

 
The phones, which are designed to make messaging faster and easier than ever before, have been introduced to meet the increasing popularity of texting as a means of communication. A recent Nielsen study suggests that some U.S. consumers now use their cell phones for text-messaging more than they do for talking.
 
In the company’s second quarter earnings reported, AT&T said that text-messaging volumes had tripled compared with the same period last year.
 
According to Mark Collins (News - Alert), vice president of consumer products for AT&T’s wireless unit, as texting continues to win over more people, unlimited messaging bundles become more valuable for customers.
 
“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,” Collins said.
 
Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. Today’s featured white paper is The Compelling ROI Benefits of Contact Center Quality and Performance Management Technologies, brought to you by Voice Print International (News - Alert).

Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil's articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Michael Dinan







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