Can Sidekick, Tilt Satisfy Texters?

Nov. 20, 2007 — -- Why call when you can text?

That seems to be the mantra for many teen and twentysomething cell phone users. A recent study by Jupiter Research found that about 73 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 text message. And according to wireless association the CTIA, last year, 158 billion text messages were sent nationwide, nearly double the number in 2005.

This holiday season, texters delight: There are two new phones on the market designed to ease those cramping thumbs.

The T-Mobile Sidekick LX and AT&T Tilt both feature a QWERTY keyboard -- aka, a mini version of the computer keyboard -- eliminating the need to jab at a single key multiple times to get to the letter you want. "Wat r u doin" can morph into the much more cordial "Hey there, what are you doing?" with a few flicks of a finger. "IDK" can go back to "I don't know."

Or, the quick and easy keyboards can spawn a whole new wave of text acronyms and abbreviations. Read on to see how the phones rated when put to the texting test, and of course, how they fare with the old fashioned phone call.

T-Mobile Sidekick LX ($399.99)

Ever since Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Co. made the first iteration of the Sidekick cool back in 2002, the phone has been the must-have accessory of the jet-set, party-hopping Hollywood crew. The latest addition to the Sidekick family has a host of new features both superstars and mere mortals will love.

Designed by Sharp, the Sidekick LX boasts a thinner, sleeker profile, a high-definition LCD screen, a camera with flash and multimedia messaging. The Sidekick's signature swivel display opens up to reveal a comfortable QWERTY keyboard that adult fingers and thumbs can navigate with ease. A trackball on the phone's base allows for quick scrolling through the Sidekick's menus, though it takes a bit of practice to get it under control.

One of the fun new additions to the Sidekick is a mood lighting system that users can customize to alert them of new text messages, e-mail or phone calls. Speaking of calls, they come through loud and clear on the Sidekick and the phone's size makes for comfortable talking.