UTStarcom XV6600

DESIGN
UTStarcom’s XV6600 hides its QWERTY keyboard on a slider to increase the display size without making the whole device too big. Rather than the hard, raised keys that are the norm on most other smart phones, the XV6600’s are the size of a pin head, and they’re buried under a membrane. The result is no feedback, and even fingernails don’t improve accuracy, making it the worst smart phone keyboard that we’ve used since the Sierra Wireless Voq.

FEATURES
Pocket versions of popular applications such as Word, for viewing and editing documents, are included with the XV6600. The VGA camera is optional to attract security-minded business users, and it doesn’t cost extra. Web pages and e-mail both look good on the crisp 3.5-inch display.

E-MAIL
The XV6600 uses Verizon’s Wireless Sync for configuring e-mail sent to other accounts, such as your ISP, and then pushing it to the device at intervals of 20 minutes or more. Like other Windows Mobile devices, the XV6600 has pre-installed versions of Excel and Word, but their usefulness is undermined by a keyboard that makes extensive editing a chore.

PERFORMANCE
The XV6600 runs on EV-DO, so Web pages loaded quickly. Voice calls were clear, and battery life came in at around three hours, which is better than advertised, but pales in comparison to other smart phones.

VERDICT
An awful keyboard outweighs the XV6600’s speedy data access. Wireless Sync is great for e-mail, but it’s available on four other, better smart phones.

www.verisonwireless.com