Pantech Ease, the first quick messaging phone from AT&T with menus will go on sale June 20

The Pantech Ease is touted to deliver a streamlined mobile experience. Ease offers a bright 3.2" full touch screen display, a full keyboard, intuitive menus. Ease can be switched from Easy mode to Advanced mode for a more traditional quick messaging user experience with a quick settings change. There are advanced camera tools, a pedometer, text-to-voice, voice to text and an easy mobile web browser,

Pantch Ease will be available June 20 for $69.99 (Pay $119.99 and after mail-in rebate receive $50 AT&T Promotion Card. Two year service agreement and a minimum $20 messaging or combination of messaging and data plans required.)

Texting while driving  must be stopped.  A war has been declared by ThumbWars.org through DoSomething.org, sponsored by Sprint.

On the ThumbWars site, teens can learn about the dangers of texting while driving and order "thumb socks," to prevent them from texting & driving and enter a bumper sticker design contest to spread further awareness. 

Reading or responding to text messages while driving can have serious consequences, which is why the cast of The CW's "Melrose Place" joins AT&T in saying "Txtng and Drivng ... It Can Wait."


The CW will include a reference to the campaign in the March 30 episode of "Melrose Place" (Tuesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET) and has also developed a public service announcement (PSA) featuring "Melrose Place" stars Katie Cassidy and Michael Rady. The PSA, which will air immediately following the show on March 30 and will also be featured online.

An Acision study reveals that mobile phone users in North America would like to have .more control over mobile messaging. Users want to have control over the messages they receive, and parents would like to be able to blacklist numbers for a reasonable price.

While only a few respondents experienced mobile cyberbullying, 87 percent would like to have control over the messages they receive, opting for a preventative measure that can address cyberbullying threats immediately, rather than be caught off guard.

More than half questioned (62 percent) would like to be able to blacklist mobile numbers on their cell phone and would activate a blacklisting service for a reasonable price if it was available to them.

As news from the Chile earthquake grows, we are adding to our list of ways to donate to Chile earthquake relief efforts via text messages. This information is culled from several sources, please let us know if you have any more to add to the list.

• Text "CHILE" to 25383 to donate $10 to support Chile relief efforts through Habit for Humanity.
• Text "4CHILE" to 50555 to donate $10 to support Chile relief efforts through Convoy of Hope.

• Text "REBUILD" to 50555 to donate $10 to support Chile relief efforts through Operation USA.
• Text "CHILE" to 52000 to donate $10 to support Chile relief efforts through The Salvation Army.
• Text "CHILE" to 20222 a $10 donation to World Vision.
• Text the word "CHILE" to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the American Red Cross.
• Text "YOUTH" to 20222 to donate $10 to UNICEF.
• Text "CHILE" to 45678 to donate $5 (In Canada Only in English) to UNICEF Canada
  
• Text  "SAVE" to 20222 to donate $10 to Save the Children Federation, Inc.
  
• Text  "CHILE" to 85944 to donate $10 toInternational Medical Corp.
  
• Text "CHILE" to 50555 to donate $10 to Friends of the World Program.
  
• Text "REBUILD" to 50555 to donate $10 on behalf of Friends of the Operation USA.

Verizon has waived all long-distance usage charges forc alls from its residential landline and Verizon Wireless phones to Chile, from Feb. 26 through Mar. 6. All the carriers Sprint, T-Mobile AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon will not charge for text message donations.

You can send money to Chilean earthquake relief efforts via text on mobile phones:

• Make a $10 donation to Habitat for Humanity, text the word "CHILE" to 25383;
• Make a $10 donation to World Vision, text the word "CHILE" to 20222. 
• Text "CHILE" to 52000 to donate $10 to the Salvation Army in Latin America.
• Text the word "CHILE" to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the American Red Cross.
• Text "REBUILD" to 50555 to donate $10 to Operation USA.
• Text "YOUTH" to 20222 to donate $10 to UNICEF.

NOTE: We previously mistakenly posted that T-Mobile was not charging long distance for calls to Chile.  We were incorrect and apologize.  The story was posted on the weekend when T-Mobile could not be reached.

More teens are choosing texting over instant messaging as their preferred method of communication, according to the latest TeenMark study from Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI).

Some 57% of teenagers report they text messaged on their cell phones in the last 30 days, compared to 42% who instant messaged on a computer in the same time frame, according to the TeenMark study.

With affordable unlimited texting plans available from most cell phone carriers, it’s easier than ever for teenagers to use their thumbs to communicate. The number of teens who text has increased 50% since 2007, vs. a 13% decline in the number of teens using instant messaging. Texting is now the #1 feature teens use on mobile cell phones, aside from making phone calls.

Not only are more teens texting, there is ample evidence that texting holds an important place in teens’ lives. For instance, 78% of teens who text agree that “text messaging is an important part of my daily life.” And, 75% of texting teens report they text while watching TV. The most common reason teens text is to communicate with friends and family. However, 1 in 5 texting teens also use texting to vote in contests, and 1 in 7 texting teens report they looked at an advertisement sent with a text message.

Nielsen has noticed the massive use of texting by teens.

American teenagers are using 3,146 messages a month, which translates into more than 10 messages every hour of the month that they are not sleeping or in school. Even the under 12 segment are sending 1,146 messages per month, which is almost four text messages per waking hour that they are not at school.

The holidays were busy for teen texters. While the 13-17 year old age bracket is already highly saturated, the last holiday season was good to the under 12 segment when it came to text messaging. A full 8 percent increase in SMS usage was measured combined with a near doubling in text message volume for that segment in the following quarter (Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are late in December, so usage increases will be recorded in Q1).

ChaCha (UR mobile BFF) says that a poll of its users, primarily teens and young adults, who asked questions during the Super Bowl last night showed that their favorite commercials were for Doritos. The ones they disliked most were for Go Daddy and the one most talked about, as measured by text traffic, was Denny's, mostly asking where was the nearest location of the restaurant to collect their free meal on Tuesday.

Inquiries about the teams involved also skyrocketed with 60,000 (about 10x the norm) asked throughout Super Bowl Sunday.

Methodology: During the Super Bowl telecast people who asked ChaCha questions were asked to text back after their game with their favorite and least favorite commercials. About 900 gave us their favorite and 650 voted for their least favorite. Denny's generated the most overall conversation as measured by queries to ChaCha.

Now moms can get health suggestion text messages through a public service program being launched today by a coalition of mobile phone service providers, health professionals, and Federal, State, and Local agencies.

The new program, called text4baby, is a free mobile information service that provides timely health information to women from early pregnancy through their babies' first year. The service sends health tips that are timed to the mother's stage of pregnancy or the baby's age.

Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE for Spanish) receive three free SMS text messages each week timed to their due date or baby's date of birth.

The messages focus on topics critical to the health of moms and babies, including, nutrition, seasonal flu prevention and treatment, mental health issues, risks of tobacco use, oral health, immunization schedules, and safe sleep.

Text4baby messages also connect women to public clinics and support services for prenatal and infant care.

"Text4baby represents an extraordinary opportunity to expand the way we use our phones, to demonstrate the potential of mobile health technology, and make a real difference for moms and babies across the country," said Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer for the U.S. Government.

Donations made via mobile phones for Haiti Earthquake Relief have reached $30 million across all the short codes reported the Mobile Giving Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping other non-profits raise funds through mobile.

A list ways to text aid to Haiti follow:

Text the word "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 Text the word "Haiti" to 501501 to donate $10 On behalf of the Yele Foundation Text the word "Quake" to 20222 to donate $10 On behalf of The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund Text the word "Haiti" to 20222 to donate $10 On behalf of the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund Text the word "Haiti" to 52000 to donate $10 On behalf of the Salvation Army Text the word "Hope10" or "UNICEF" to 20222 to donate $10 On behalf of UNICEF Text the word "Habitat" to 25383 to donate $10 On behalf of Habitat for Humanity Text the word "Haiti" to 40579 to donate $10 On behalf of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Text the word "Oxfam" to 25383 to donate $10 On behalf of Oxfam America, Inc. Text the word "Save" or "Safe" to 20222 to donate $10 On behalf of Save the Children Federation, Inc. Text the word "Give" or "World" to 20222 to donate $10 On behalf of World Vision Inc. Text the word "Haiti" to 85944 to donate $10 On behalf of the International Medical Corps Text the word "Haiti" to 25383 to donate $5 On behalf of the International Rescue Committee Text the word "Care" to 25383 to donate $10 On behalf of Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE) Text the word "Live" to 25383 to donate $10 On behalf of AmeriCares, Inc. Text the word "LWR" to 40579 to donate $10 On behalf of Lutheran World Relief Text the word "AJWS" to 25383 to donate $10 On behalf of the American Jewish World Service Text the word "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 On behalf of the American Red Cross in the U.S. Text the word "Haiti" to 45678 (In Canada Only) On behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada Text the word "Haiti" to 30333 (In Canada Only) to donate $5 On behalf of Plan Canada Text the word "Hope" or "Monde" to 45678 (In Canada Only) to donate $5 On behalf of World Vision Canada Text the word "CAHAITI" to 20222 (In Canada only) to donate $5 On behalf of the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative

Nearly 2.5 million people have texted $10 pledges for Haitian relief to the American Red Cross in seven days, the largest number ever to take action for a mobile giving campaign. Mobile pledges now total about 25 percent of all Red Cross donations for Haiti. The response to the disaster in Haiti has underscored the effectiveness of the mobile phone as a force for social good worldwide.

"People are increasingly doing more than just talking on their mobile phones," said Mobile Accord Chairman James Eberhard. "Since it is one of the few items people always carry with them, the power of mobile giving is hard to overestimate."

Oprah calls it "America's new deadly" obsession, texting, emailing and calling while driving.  Oprah's show today illustrates the great tragedies that happen due to distracted driving.

Oprah urges her viewers to take a pledge. So far over 20,000 people have taken the No Phone Zone pledge:

I pledge to make my car a No Phone Zone. Beginning right now,  I will do my part to help put an end to distracted driving by not texting or using my phone while I am driving.  I will ask other drivers I know to do the same.  I pledge to make a difference.

A recent survey found that 71 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 49 admit they text or talk on the phone while they drive.

When a train conductor wasn't paying attention while receiving 40 text messages. The train collided head-on with a freight train, injuring 135 people, killing the conductor and 24 other peopl.

A truck driver while texting hit a school bus carrying 21 students while. Twenty students escaped, but 13-year-old Margay Schee was killed.

Nearly 500,000 people are injured and 6,000 are killed each year because drivers are talking, texting and e-mailing behind the wheel.

"It is my prayer that this show, this day will be a seminal day in your life," Oprah says. "Let it be the end, the end of you using a cell phone or sending a text message when you are behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. And until we as a nation decide we're going to change that, those numbers are only going to go up."

Another good resource for information is FocusDriven, where Elissa Schee the mother of Margay Schee along with other concerned parents are helping victims and campaigning to fight distracted driving.

Donations made via mobile phones for Haiti Earthquake Relief have surpassed $16 million.

Over the weekend mobile donations increased from $10 million reported by MGF on Friday to more than $16 million. The Foundation noted that it continues to see donations come in at an increasing pace. MGF will report numbers again on Monday.

Here's a list of ways to text money for Haiti Aid:

• Text the word "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5
• Text the word "Yele10" or "YeleTen" to 501501 to donate $10 on behalf of the Yele Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean.
• Text the word "QUAKE" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 52000 to donate $10 on behalf of the Salvation Army.
• Text the word "Hope10" or "UNICEF" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of UNICEF.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 40579 to donate $10 on behalf of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB).
  
• Text the word "Save" or "Safe" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of Save the Children Federation, Inc.
• Text the word "Give" or "World" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of World Vision Inc.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 85944 to donate $10 on behalf of the International Medical Corps.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 25383 to donate $5 on behalf of the International Rescue Committee.
• Text the word "Oxfam" to 25383 to donate $10 on behalf of Oxfam America, Inc.
• Text the word "PP" to 25383 to donate $10 on behalf of Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE).
• Text the word "Americares" to 25383 to donate $10 on behalf of Americares, Inc.
• Text the word "Habitat" to 25383 to donate $10 on behalf of Habitat for Humanity.
• Text the word "Give" to 25383 to donate $10 on behalf of the MTV telethon.
• Text the word "AJWS" to 25383 to donate $10 on behalf of the American Jewish World Service.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the American Red Cross in the U.S.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 45678 (In Canada Only) on behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 30333 (In Canada Only) to donate $5 on behalf of the Plan Canada.
• Text the word "World" or "Monde" to 45678 (In Canada Only) to donate $5 on behalf of World Vision Canada.
• Text the word "CAHAITI" to 20222 (In Canada only) to donate $5 on behalf of the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative.

In 36 hours, donations made via mobile phones for Haiti Earthquake Relief have surpassed $7 million reported the  Mobile Giving Foundation, a non profit organization dedicated to helping other non-profits raise funds through mobile.

This amount represents a mobile-giving record for funds raised for a single cause. But there is a long way to go.

As more organizations support relief efforts in Haiti, additional short codes are available for making monetary donations to help those affected by the recent earthquake.

By texting a keyword to a designated short code via a mobile phone, a micro-donation of $5 or $10 can be made to aid the millions of people affected by this tragedy. 100% of your donation goes to the recipient charity, and the donation appears as a charge on your carrier bill, standard rates may apply.

There are several organizations that are responding to this urgent need with mobile giving efforts, including the following:

• Text the word "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 On behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 20222 to donate $10 On behalf of the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 85944 to donate $10 On behalf of the International Medical Corp.
• Text the word "Haiti" to 25383 to donate $5 On behalf of the International Rescue Committee.

Wireless customers  can send $10 donations to the Red Cross International Relief Fund to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

Type in the word HAITI and send it to 90999. A confirmation message will arrive within a few minutes, to which the customer replies "yes" to finalize the donation. 100 percent of all money donated will be passed on to the Red Cross.

Editor's Note Updated 01/14/10: We have posted a list of all the Text ways to SMS relief to Haiti.

The American Red Cross office in Haiti was tumbled by the quake.

The American Red Cross is sending money, supplies and staff to Haiti to support relief efforts there after yesterday's earthquake, which caused catastrophic damage and loss of life
.

According to reports, as many as three million people may have been affected by the quake, which collapsed government buildings and caused major damage to hospitals in the area. 

The Red Cross is contributing an initial $1 million from the International Response Fund to support the relief operation, and has opened its warehouse in Panama to provide tarps, mosquito nets and cooking sets for approximately 5,000 families.

In addition to Red Cross staff already in Haiti, six disaster management specialists are being deployed to the disaster zone to help coordinate relief efforts. At this time, the American Red Cross is only deploying volunteers specially trained to manage international emergency operations.

Lifeguards may want to check their cell phones for text messages on the popular beaches in Perth. There are now monitoring stations designed to track movements of great white sharks off Perth's coast in Australia.  Receivers track great white sharks that have been electronically tagged.

When a shark is near a monitoring station, a message is generated and sends an email to the Department database and then SMS text messages are sent to government and  beach safety agencies. Agencies can then close beaches.

They have not tagged all the sharks in the water, they tagged a limited number of sharks. The majority of tagged sharks were from South Australia, although it is suspected that great whites will roam as far as Perth from Australia's central south coast.

Even though texting while driving is illegal in Los Angeles, Samsung Mobile results of a local market survey revealed that not only do 80 percent of Los Angeles cell phone users text but that they're doing it everywhere.

According to CTIA, 4.1 billion text messages are sent everyday and many Los Angeles residents surveyed admit they have texted while at the doctor's office (55%), on public transportation (51%), at the movies (39%), at concerts or plays (33%), as well as in places some would consider to be taboo, such as at the dinner table (39%), on dates (26%), and in a house of worship (13%).

The California Highway Patrol issued almost 163,000 tickets to drivers talking on cell phones since mid-2008. But has only cited 1,400 texting while driving violations since January.

Meanwhile, last night at a local Sizzler, we saw six officers from the L.A. County Sherrif's department to other police officers from a local city all looking at their phones, many of which were iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones.  Therefore we can estimate that almost all police officers text while eating.  You can check your local donut shop to make sure.

Attention drivers in Illinois, New Hampshire and Oregon, texting while driving will be illegal in your states starting tommorrow.

On January 1, 2010 a Driving While Texting ban will go into effect Illinois, New Hampshire and Oregon.

Vlingo makes voice control and dictation apps for smartphones and their studies show talking to your phone is wanted and would be a lot easier..

Vlingo delivers a voice interface and technology that allows users to instantly access services and content on their device. These services include the ability send text and email messages, call contacts, search the Web, update your Facebook or Twitter status and much more by just speaking into their phone.

Vlingo's Consumer Mobile Messaging Habits Report focused on consumer texting habits, about drivers and here's what they found:

Illinois

--45% of those surveyed from Illinois would send more text messages if they could have their words translated into the body of a text message.

--When this survey released in May 2009, 30% of the respondents already thought that Illinois had a DWT ban and 40% were unsure.

--Nearly 20% admitted to texting from their car and 44% admitted to reading text messages while driving.

--86% thought that DWT should be illegal. 35% thought DWT should be legal if there was a hands free solution available and nearly 75% of the respondents said they would use a hands free solution.