Two Sleek Cell Phones With Handy Data Entry

If you've ever entered contact info into your cell phone's address book, you know it's a tedious task that usually involves pressing a number on the dial pad multiple times to get the desired letter. Give your thumbs a rest, and consider investing in a new cell phone with a mini keyboard.

I looked at two of the latest handsets in this category: the LG VX9800 from Verizon Wireless and Samsung D307 from Cingular Wireless.

For the LG phone, Verizon offers a choice between $400 with a one-year contract and $300 with a two-year contract. Cingular sells the Samsung for $250 with a two-year service contract.

Of the two phones, I like the LG better despite its higher price: The keyboard is much easier to use than Samsung's, and the phone offers a few extras, including a 1.3-megapixel camera and a media card slot.

The two phones share a few features.

For one thing, since both provide QWERTY keyboards, they're well suited for people who want to constantly stay in touch via text messaging--SMS, e-mail, or instant messaging.

Both handsets support popular instant messaging clients including AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger. IM on cell phones works pretty much the same way as it does on computers: You sign in and send messages to your friends and coworkers. But because a phone screen is small, you'll need to do a bit more scrolling to view your options and to access certain settings.

If you're exchanging IMs and Web browsing on your cell phone, you'll want a device that supports fast data networks--and both these phones do. The LG VX9800 is compatible with Verizon's EvDO (Evolution Data Optimized) network and the Samsung D307 works on Cingular's EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution) network. Cingular offers a faster data network called Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, but it is available in only a few U.S. cities.

Both phones handle voice commands, allowing you to dial a number in your phone book simply by speaking the person's name. Samsung's D307 also features speech-to-text that lets you dictate a text message instead of typing.

Both phones are also compatible with add-on Bluetooth headsets for hands-free chatting. If you're not a fan of wireless headsets but still want the option to talk hands-free, you could use each phone's speaker phone, although this option forgoes the incoming caller's privacy.

Both units sport a somewhat quirky design. They work like clamshell phones, but they're designed to be used vertically or horizontally. How so? Keep reading.