Shorthand Mobile Brings TextApps to Intelligence-Challenged Phones

Not everyone has the disposable income or desire to spend $30 per month for a data plan. And that is what’s really required if you’ve been looking to jump on the app bandwagon–a smart phone and the data plan that goes with it. Shorthand Mobile is taking a different approach, using text messaging technology to deliver info from your favorite sites (such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Facebook). All you need is a text messaging plan. And some time to kill. During our quick hands-on demo at the Showstoppers event tonight on the eve of CTIA, it took over 30 seconds to pull down Facebook updates, though the company’s CEO says 15 seconds or less is more typical.

Shorthand mobile is also working with businesses to enable consumers to order things on the fly, like Subway sandwiches. You just build your order and send it off. For now the service is available on devices like the RAZR (remember that?), as well as LG and Nokia feature phones. You can also get Shorthand on Windows Mobile phones and BlackBerrys, though we’re not sure why you wouldn’t use full-fledged apps on those handsets. Overall, Shorthand has a cool interface for being text-message based, and you can’t complain about free.