Verizon XV-6800 Smartphone (Verizon Wireless, Phone Only, No Service)

Features
Windows Mobile 6 smartphone with sliding QWERTY keyboard for easy input
Fast downloads via Verizon's EV-DO connectivity and connect to open Wi-Fi networks (802.11b/g)
2.8-inch color TFT reorients itself automatically depending on how you hold the phone
Up to 5.4 hours (324 minutes) hours of talk time, up to 340 hours of standby time; measures 4.33 x 2.32 x 0.73 inches (WxHxD)
Included: Phone, AC travel Charger, Battery, USB Data Cable; Spare stylus, Simple pouch; USB Splitter; Software, Guides

Accessories
Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset (Black or Blue and Grey)[Bulk Packaged]
Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset [Retail Packaged]
Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth Wireless Headset (Black)
Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth Headset v2.0 - Red (Samsung Retail Packaging)
BlueAnt Supertooth Light Bluetooth Speakerphone (Black)

Spotlight Customer Reviews
Customer Rating:
Summary: Firmware upgrade fixed flaws
Comment: I have to agree with the folks who gave this phone a "less-than-exemplary" rating.

My husband and I purchased this phone (one each) last year site unseen. Based on CNET and other YouTube reviews posted, we thought this is a great way to upgrade my husband from an ordinary phone to a PDA. I was also looking to upgrade from Palm Treo 650 to something else. I got tired of waiting for the new Treo so I gave in and bought this instead. We decided to buy the same phone so that I can better support him. I, myself, am a computer engineer.

Here are my experiences:
PROS
1) decent pda, synched with my Outlook fine, performs just like any MS Mobile 6.0+ device

2) nice keyboard layout. If you are a fan of SMS, this is a good pda for you. Keyboard is decent-sized.

3) camera is not bad but you have to watch the lighting; not bad for a 2MP camera

4) compact for what it is

5) good voice dial capability

6) good speed/shortcut buttons

CONS
1) Battery drains fast. This thing is a power hog. You charge fully until 9pm. By 6am, battery is all but dead. And I did not get any calls overnight!

2) Delay in touchscreen apparent

3) You need to kill applications the lame way - go to the Applications icon and explicitly tap the option to "kill all apps" or the equivalent.

4) If bright outside, the screen is next to impossible to view.

5) If with Verizon, if you reset this phone, you have to call Verizon to put back the applications/service features in your contract.


After struggling with Verizon Wireless about the multiple problems we were having and after venting that we would like to terminate our service with them, we were told to try a firmware upgrade with the idea that our complaints will be fixed by this download.

I was skeptical but I figured, with all the problems with the phone, nothing else can possibly go wrong.

I have to say that after download and reset, I immediately noticed a difference in performance and UI accessibility. Here are some of the improvements:

1) Battery drain gone. Improved power management with the battery icon on the top right, when clicked, leading the user to the Power Management app.

2) A new icon has been added to access the Running Programs and the ability to close the programs with 2 clicks.

3) Remote Desktop UI access added

4) Wi-Fi UI improved

It took a year but finally, I think we hit the nail on the head. The battery lasts 3 days on standby. If you get an upgraded battery, the new power management update will last 7 + days on standby.

But I have to still agree with posters that this is not for the casual user. Not for the faint of heart and not for the non-geeks, unfortunately.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Worst PDA ever
Comment: I've had a PDA phone since they came on the market. The more recent have been the Samsung i730 and now the HTC xv6800. I want my Samsung back. I gave it to my sister-in-law and wish I would have given her the xv6800.

-Bad reception. I've had other internal antenna PDAs and this is worse by far.
-Camera takes bad pictures (I know how to work it well)
-Touch screen delayed response
-Phone dial pad MUCH delayed response
-Sound quality is so poor, both on speaker phone and on BT headset, not worth listening to.
-Battery life is horrible. If left unplugged overnight, you have to charge before leaving. We've had two battery failures (battery buldges out) and the new battery when charged properly and used fully still doesn't hold a charge.

I want my Samsung back!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Ok PDA, Terrible Phone
Comment: I am inclined to agree with the negative reviews of this device's phone capabilities. It is a good PDA and synchs with Outlook just fine. It is a horrible phone. It has trouble finding and holding a signal (4 bars to no bars to 4 bars without ever moving from where I'm sitting), poor sound quality (Verizon's solution is to use a bluetooth headset), terrible battery life. I like the PDA capabilities, but since I bought it to be both a phone AND a PDA, losing out on the phone makes it a poor choice. I am on my third device, trying to work out the reception issues with Verizon and it is the phone - not Verizon. I will be trading it in, paying the difference, and getting a different phone.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Locks up a LOT - get familiar with how to remove the battery cover!!
Comment: The longer I have this phone, the worse it gets at locking up on me. I'm not even a heavy user - mostly have it powered off and like to power on when I need to make or am expecting a call or am out of the office needing to check email. (Don't even get me started on battery life, but I can live with that).

No, about 50% of the time, I get a super fast flashing cursor on my pw screen which won't accept more than 3 characters without starting over on space one, meaning you can never enter your pw. A hard reboot is the only option - remove battery case, and do a 1 min timeout. Of course, this ALWAYS happens when you need to make an urgent call. Thank goodness I've never needed to call 911, but still, I've been tempted more than once to hurl this out the moving car window. Pass on this phone. The tendency to lock-up is a total deal breaker, even for the light user who expects a phone to work when needed. And consider the approx 4 min startup time that must be suffereed thru after each hard reboot before you can use the phone again. :(

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Versatile Smartphone
Comment: This is my first smart phone so I'm enjoying the combination phone, PDA and PC. I used to carry a mobile phone and a sony clie; it was a bit cumbersome having two devices. I bought the XV6800 with a 4GB memory card and blue tooth stereo headset so I could take advantage of its many features for music, video & data storage and downlaoding programs; the memory card was very cheap and extremely beneficial - I'm glad I bought it at the time I purchased the phone. I'm in the process of setting up a server exchange in my office so I'll have the ability to push enmail messages to my phone; this should give me the added connectivity I'm missing from my previous phone. I am especially pleased with the Live Search program that I downloaded free from the Mobile Access site; I am able to search for points of interests and receive directions on how to get to them complete with maps. Connectivity to the internet is quick and the screen easy to read. Moving between websites if efficient and smooth. My laptop is in the shop, so when I receive it back I'm anxious to test the XV6800's tethering-capability to provide wireless internet access to my laptop without having to use the carrier's card. This will be helpful when I'm away from the office and want to work on a standard keyboard and screen. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the XV6800; it is powerful and convenient; it should make me more efficient in handling the many tasks my job demands. I'm very pleased with the purchase.

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Editorial Reviews
Leave the laptop behind and stay connected and productive wherever you roam with the XV6800 Smartphone, the newest Windows Mobile 6 Professional Edition device from Verizon. It features an extra-large, 2.8-inch touchscreen as well as a surprise waiting up its sleeve: just slide the top of the phone sideways to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. And the new Windows Mobile 6 operating system enables you to view and edit Word and Excel documents as well as provides instant message capabilities via Windows Live Messenger. (See more details about Windows Mobile 6 below.) The included Outlook Mobile software offers up-to-date e-mail, calendar and contact information.

It operates on Verizon's North American CDMA voice network, as well as on Verizon's speedy EV-DO data network, which enables you to quickly access audio, video and data applications as well as connect directly to your office's network. You'll be productive wherever you roam thanks to the integrated Wi-Fi connectivity for use at wireless hotspots and access to Verizon's BroadbandAccess Connect service (which lets you use your phone as a modem to your laptop; subscription required). Other features include built-in Bluetooth connectivity (for headsets and stereo headphones), 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, and MicroSD memory card expansion.

Surprisingly svelte and easily pocketable, the Verizon XV6800 weighs under 6 ounces and measures just 0.73 inches thin.

Verizon Service
With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, you'll enjoy fast access to the Internet and Verizon's multimedia services (additional charges applicable), with average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.)

With BroadbandAccess Connect (subscription required), you can use your smartphone as a modem for your notebook when you connect the two using a USB cable--or open a Bluetooth connection--enabling you to access the Internet or your company intranet. The tethered modem capability is ideal when you're traveling and need to use your notebook to check email, access corporate networks, or download large files like presentations and reports. And with BroadbandAccess Connect, you won't have to buy an extra PC Card or other devices.

Verizon's Wireless Sync always-on email service (subscription required), you can stay connected and get the job done while away from the office--without a delay and in a secure environment. Email is delivered to your device in real time across the National Enhanced Services Rate & Coverage Area, and you get the ability to forward large attachments via email as well as access both your personal and corporate emails on one device. Wireless Sync offers strong security with AES encryption (Advanced Encryption Standard) technology so that unauthorized parties cannot access or alter application data transmitted over wireless networks.

The Verizon XV6800 slides open sideways to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, and the screen reorients itself depending on how you hold the phone.

Phone Features
The sliding keyboard provides a familiar interface and allows for quick and efficient input of information, and the slide-to-hide form factor eliminates bulkiness for a sleek and stylish design. It measures just 0.73 inches thin and weighs a svelte 5.8 ounces. The 2.8-inch color touchscreen transreflective TFT screen automatically orients itself depending on how you hold the phone (i.e., from portrait to landscape and back again). It displays 65,000 colors and has a 320 x 240-pixel resolution.

In addition to supporting EV-DO wireless broadband networking, the Mogul also features Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), which enables you to use open wireless networks at airports and coffee shops. This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and audio/video remote control. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server--using Sprint's Mobile Broadband Network. And when connected to a Bluetooth headset, caller information for incoming calls will be spoken through the Bluetooth device. Decide to answer the call without ever looking at your phone.

The 2-megapixel autofocus camera (with up to 8x digital zoom) on the back of the Mogul captures images up to 1600 x 1200 pixels (good enough for prints up to 8 x 10 inches). You can make such camera adjustments as white balance and exposure metering, choose from resolution modes (such as sports for fast-moving action) as well as use of the integrated flash, and set a self-timer of either 2 or 10 seconds. Additionally, the Wing can capture video with or without audio (in MPEG-4, 3GPP2, or H.263 format, the latter being best for sending via MMS). You can also play back audio and video files downloaded from the Internet or sent to you via email using the integrated Windows Media Player.

Other features include:

• Included memory: 256 MB ROM (163 MB user accessible); 64 MB RAM (49 MB user accessible)
• Instantly send and receive SMS Text Messages across the room or across the country.
• Updated ActiveSync technology (version 4.5) offers one of the best PC to mobile device sync experiences, making it easier to configure with faster data transfer and sync accuracy.
• Hands-free operation of your phone is made easy with the built-in speakerphone, allowing you to take a conference call virtually anywhere
• Stereo headset jack for handsfree operation and music enjoyment.

Powered by Windows Mobile 6

Windows Mobile 6 adds power to your mobile office with up-to-date e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars.

Edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets on your phone, just as you would on your desktop/laptop PC.

Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6 updates the Windows Mobile 5 platform with a number of handy features that make searching through email, editing Microsoft Office documents, and staying on top of your most important communications even easier. Emails can now be viewed in their original rich HTML format and now offer the ability to visit embedded links. It also includes Windows Live for Windows Mobile, which provides a full set of Windows Live services, such as the Windows Live Messenger IM application, which now enables you to chat with more than one person at one time or send a file.

With Windows Mobile 6, your phone will finally be able to emulate the power and features of your PC's Microsoft Office suite. You'll be able to neatly view, navigate and edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets in their original formatting--without affecting tables, images or text--as well as view PowerPoint presentations.

• Microsoft Office Word Mobile features include spell-check, Find and Replace commands, bulleted lists, text formatting, and support for tables for the first time.
• With Excel Mobile, you’re not just confined to editing charts: with the new Chart Wizard you can create charts quickly and easily.
• PowerPoint Mobile allows you to view the full presentation, rehearse timings, check the order and any live links you may have in your presentation. You can then email comments back to the team or communicate via MSN Messenger for an immediate response.
• After creating or editing a Word document or Excel spreadsheet, you can synchronize it with your PC and it will automatically be converted to the PC version.

All Windows Mobile 6 powered devices include Direct Push Technology for up-to-date e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars, tasks and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server. It also offers a set of important device security and management features that include the capability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen, helping ensure that confidential information remains that way.