Is there a difference between texting and verbal conversation?

Im asking this question because my husband is on the black berry nightly texting whole night. to me its the same as verbal conversation. we spoke about it and now he say he has improved because he now gets of at 10 30. isn't this just rude and disrespectful. I think he should be on this phone these hours chatting whole night. shouldn't be on unless it an emergency it bad as it is spending time together after a busy day at work.