Have XV6700, Verizon's version. Great Phone!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Compact, does EVERYTHING, Keyboard is amazing.

Cons: not the BEST antenna/signal

The Bottom Line: 
I highly recommend that anyone wanting full functionality from a single device buy this, and the broadband service offered.

My Situation

I actually own the Verizon XV6700; however, it is exactly the same phone. The phone is made by Audiovox, and they allow Sprint/Verizon to both sell it. The only physical difference is that the Version XV6700 is black instead of silver.

As a Phone

The 6700 seems to be decent when using it as a phone. The ring volume could use to be louder, but we can't have everything can we. The speakerphone feature works well, and the buttons on the touchscreen when dialing are very nicely sized to allow you to hit them with your fingers, instead of the stylus.

My only complaint of it as a phone, would be it's antenna. I originally went to Verizon, because I have bad cellphone service at home. I borrowed someone's verizon phone and found myself getting 2 bars in the basement. With this phone I barely get 1 bar, and lose signal while walking up the stairs. However, to it's credit, it appears to be able to make phone calls fairly well while 'barely connected'.

As a PDA

As a PDA the 6700 is more than I could ask for. I will fully admit that this is my first PocketPC based PDA. I have used multiple PalmOS ones in the past (Palm III & Zire 71), and a T-Mobile Sidekick. While I'm not a big fan of Windows, I must say that I am amazed at the resolution of the screen, and everything that this PDA can do. It's just very nice.

It could use a little bit of speeding up, it sometimes lags a bit when starting new applications, or switching around. I also found that it was required to go download a Process Manager (I'm using Magic Button). When I first ran Magic Button I found I had about 20 different applications running all at once. Killing those all off certainly helped out.

I've also been VERY impressed with the battery life on this. Given all that it does I expected it to be dying on a regular basis. Instead, it lasts for multiple days. Very nice indeed.

As an internet access medium

This to me is the shining point of this device. I am paying for the unlimited broadband access on the phone, and it is quite amazing. When in the EVDO service range (which in the Baltimore/Washington area, seems to be most everywhere), you get speeds that rival my cable modem. Of course, Verizon seems to have much better coverage than Sprint, hence why I went with them.

Of course, the phone not only does wireless broadband, but also can communicate on WiFi networks, and via bluetooth. This little phone can just talk with anything! The best part, is using it as a 'tether modem' for your laptop. Yes, this phone can share it's broadband access with your laptop, either via a USB cable, or bluetooth. Verizon has this access disabled by default, as well as some other odd restrictions (such as not allowing the phone to be turned on, if WiFi is turned on). A few searches on the web however will yield websites with information on how to re-enable these features, which the Sprint version already has, letting you use your Phone/PDA to the fullest.

Keyboard

On one last specific note, I absolutely love the keyboard on this phone. It is the biggest keyboard with the largest keys I have seen on a PDA/Phone this size. It is actually very easy to type on it, much easier than the Blackberry, and the Sidekick, that I've used in the past.

Summary

Overall this is an amazing phone/pda, doing literally everything under the sun. I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants the combined abilities of PDA/Phone and Broadband access.