AT&T Requires Messaging Plans For Messaging Phones

Okay, fine, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to get a feature phone with a keyboard if you don't text a lot, but what if something happens and you really just can't afford the luxury of a texting plan anymore? You're out of luck. AT&T is requiring messaging plans with a choice list of devices from here on out. Check out the new requirements below:

• Phones that require a messaging plan at time of purchase include: Pantech Reveal, Pantech Impact, Motorola Karma, Samsung Flight, Samsung Impression, Samsung Magnet, Samsung Solstice, Samsung Mythic, Samsung Propel, LG Xenon, LG Neon, and the LG Vu.
• It looks like the minimum monthly cost when buying a "Quick Messaging" phone is around $20. That's a $5 200 SMS/MMS plan and a $15/month unlimited data plan. It doesn't look like you can walk out of the door without paying less than $20/mo in features in addition to your voice plan.
• There are slightly different requirements if you have a family plan, so check those out in detail with your AT&T liaison.
• If you have an existing "Quick Messaging" device, you don't have to do a thing. But, if you want to ever upgrade to a new device, you'd then be hit with the messaging feature requirement.

Thanks to BGR for the photo and info.

HTC's Smart Is Their First Dumbphone

HTC is known for their superb line of hardware, and most recently for manufacturing the Google Nexus One. But, until now, they've never put out a "dumbphone", so to speak. The HTC Smart is their first entry into this category. The device is running the Qualcomm Brew-MP with a Sense UI skin. While not a device that I would ever use, it sure looks great. For such a small screen and for the asking price, users are getting a great device, all things considered.

The Smart is not aimed at smartphone users like you and I, but at users considering getting a smartphone soon, and bridging that gap. The experience the Smart delivers cements them into the Sense UI, thus making them more likely to pick up an HTC device running sense, whether Android, Windows Mobile, or otherwise when the time come for them to take the leap.

Engadget has a great hands-on and we've got the full specs on the device and the press release after the jump.

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