Text Messaging Just Got Easier

There are many advantages to text messaging, such as being able to carry a private conversation in public spaces, or relating a quick message to someone who may be in meetings all day. Sure we've adopted text messaging short hand, and some online services offer PC to phone texting, but unless your mobile phone includes a full keypad, you're still going to have to tap each key several times to compose your message.

Mobile phone companies continue to improve their new handsets with predictive text systems, or redesigning keypads so each letter and number have their own key. But I think the upcoming Sony Ericsson Z558 with touchscreen display is a better idea. The phone will be equipped with handwriting recognition software, and a small stylus so you can write out a message that's converted into a text message.

The black clamshell includes FM radio, 1.3 megapixel camera, 4x digital zoom, Bluetooth technology, and a media player that plays music and video.  You'll definately need a memory stick to bump up the memory's capacity that is limited to 18MB without it.

This phone will be initially released in Asia-Pacific in October, but hopefully they'll bring it to America soon.