Roundup: Phones with QWERTY

Just like in fashion, the world of cell phones and smart phones is a very design-driven industry. You've got the super-stylish for fashionistas, the colorful, and the unusual for those who dare to be different. While cell phones have been more adventurous in form factor, smart phones and handhelds tend to be more conservative and limited in design since a) they largely cater to a business crowd and b) there's only so much a manufacturer can do with the handset without sacrificing features and usability.

However, that doesn't mean we're stuck in the age of blocky, brick-like devices. The current style to saunter down the handset runway is the sleek full QWERTY handset that, whether you love it or hate it, was spurned by the Moto Q. Here's a roundup of phones with a full QWERTY keyboard for all your messaging needs.

Also see these upcoming models:


Click here for a feature comparison table.

	1.	Nokia E90 Communicator       CNET Asia rating: 8.4 out of 10 The good: Solid build quality; numeric keypad in addition to a QWERTY keyboard; Wi-Fi, HSDPA, GPS and Bluetooth stereo; large 800 x 352-pixel screen; supports various messaging clients including BlackBerry Connect; fast processor. The bad: Typing on the wide keyboard can be tiring after a long while; no fax capability; camera's shutter button doesn't perform up to par. The bottom line: Strong features and a relatively compact form factor make the E90 Communicator one of the best smart phones in the market today. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Moto Q 9h   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: QWERTY keypad; HSDPA (3.5G) connectivity; dual processors. The bad: No Wi-Fi; screen could be slightly wider. The bottom line: The Q 9h has one of the best smart phone keypads we have used and the Windows Mobile 6 software moves along fairly speedily. It's definitely one of the better models out there at the moment. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	Nokia E61i   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Slimmer profile compared with the E61; solid build quality; wealth of connectivity features; full QWERTY keyboard; customizable My Own key; 2-megapixel camera. The bad: Basic camera features with no built-in flash light; no front-facing camera for video conferencing; not HSPDA-enabled; mediocre image quality. The bottom line: The Nokia E61i is a very good smart phone on its own, but we can't help feel a little disappointed that nothing much has really improved from the E61 to make it stand out from its competitors. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Samsung Ultra Messaging i600       CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Slim and sexy design; thumbwheel provides a BlackBerry-like user experience; microSD expansion slot; HSDPA, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity; supports A2DP; user-friendly interface; excellent sound quality on speakerphone; second battery included. The bad: QWERTY keyboard needs some getting used to especially for users with large digits; proprietary port for charging and synchronizing phone; no audio port; basic camera feature set; no onboard flash light. The bottom line: Easily the king of connectivity in the QWERTY-equipped smart phones category, the i600 boasts strong features in a sexy, compact, monoblock form factor. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Sony Ericsson P1i   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Compact design; 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus; responsive interface; FM radio and music player; office productivity applications; support for Exchange syncing. The bad: No HSDPA; QWERTY keyboard takes some getting used to; thin stylus; requires optional accessory to use standard headphones. The bottom line: The P series is now slim and compact but still remains feature-packed for business users. Those considering one will just have to get used to the uncommon space-saving keyboard layout. Review | See full specs | Rate this