| These days, texting is one of the fastest ways | | | | Blackjack family, the Blackjack II, in 2007. The |
| to communicate with someone without having to | | | | original Blackjack, also released in 2007, was |
| sit down at a computer. From the older flip | | | | already great for texting; it had a simple texting |
| phones that require dialing as a way of texting to | | | | structure and a compact keyboard. While the |
| slide and tilt phones complete with touchscreen | | | | Blackjack II doesn't really change much of the |
| and QWERTY keyboard, phones have gradually | | | | texting part of it (both can run on Windows Mobile |
| become more designed for texting and use of a | | | | 6 and have similar QWERTY keyboards), the |
| keyboard. First came the T9 option, which made | | | | other features of the phone have really improved: |
| texting on flip phones a bit easier. Then came | | | | faster processor, improved camera, and a slightly |
| these, the two best cell phones for texting. They | | | | bigger screen. In all, the Blackjack II has not only |
| are the Blackberry Curve series, which includes | | | | retained the status of a great texting phone that |
| the 8300 and 8900, and the Samsung Blackjack | | | | the original Blackjack had, but also brought up so |
| II, successor to the original Blackjack. These two | | | | many new features that sent it to the top of the |
| combine the essentials of efficient texting to bring | | | | Consumer Reports smartphone charts. You can |
| the fastest experience. | | | | buy a Samsung Blackjack II for as low as $99, |
| The Blackberry Curve series was first released in | | | | which isn't surprising considering that the original |
| 2007 by Research In Motion. The most recent | | | | Blackjack was once at $50 (currently not in |
| 8900 release sports the classic 35-key keyboard | | | | stock). |
| and a candybar design. In fact, the Blackberry | | | | These two phones have two things in common: |
| Curve 8900 redesigned the older 8300 to get to | | | | fast response times and a compact keyboard. |
| the Internet, making use of the efficient texting | | | | These two make texting very easy because |
| design for browser use, email, and organization. | | | | everything is where it should be and the phone |
| It's no wonder that this series is one of the best | | | | won't make things difficult by being sluggish or |
| for texting; the average fingertip can press more | | | | whatnot. The industry has yet to see better |
| than four buttons at a time, whereas other | | | | phones, as these series were designed first for |
| phones have larger, bulkier buttons. You can pick | | | | texting (both predecessors were designed with a |
| up the newer Blackberry 8900 for $399, and the | | | | clean keyboard) and then upgraded up to include |
| older Blackberry 8300 for $199. | | | | very useful features like GPS, video and camera, |
| Samsung released the middle child of the | | | | email, and improved browser use. |