So, you are interested in a Windows PDA phone? A smart phone is just not enough and you want that extra screen space? You are also excited by the high speed EV-DO Internet access? You are looking to narrow down your choices I bet. Of course the ever famous Palm Treo 700w shimmers in the distance, but perhaps the specs look sub-par; such as the 240 by 240 screen which only provides 75% of the screen real estate offered by other phones (including the non-Windows Palms). That is a bummer! The amount of memory in the Treo is also less, the cpu is slower, the keyboard buttons are smaller... On top of it all, if you are a developer you might actually need that extra horsepower! So that may lead you away from the Treo and towards something like the XV6700.
I researched and picked out the UTStarcom XV6700 (via Verizon Wireless). Now you can read a couple of reviews here and here. For the most part, these reviews are correct. However, assuming you are fine with the battery life and size (for me they are fine), I am about to tell you how and why I am on my fourth device and have decided to give up on it.
The first phone I received was a bust from the get go. As soon as I took it out of the box and tried to slide out the thumb board, the hinge was extremely loose. Without any ability to tighten screws, I had to get a different one. Sure, a person can be picky, but this was not being knit-picky; the hinge was loose enough for the store to take it back with apologies and no questions asked.
The second device worked just fine, for a while. I often used my corded Plantronics headset. The phone would sit on my lap (or in a pocket), so I had no need to spend another x dollars on a bluetooth headset. Of course eventually I did end up getting one which I have already written about here, but that is another sad tale. At any rate, one day I attempt to place the call and I hear nothing. I look at the screen and see it is connected but I hear no sound. Strange! I then fiddle around with it, do a soft reset and try again. Still no sound. I can make a call and even receive a call but I hear nothing. The speaker works because it rings just fine, but when answered, nothing. The same thing occurs when I try to put it on speaker phone - there is no sound. The problem? Apparently there is an issue whereby using wired headsets with the XV6700 causes a pin inside of the socket to get stuck. So when you unplug the headset it still thinks it is in. That is why everything seemed to work fine but I would hear nothing; the phone simply was behaving as if I had my headset plugged in. The Verizon rep stated he knew of one customer who had returned three for just that problem! I received a new one and decided to go bluetooth so as to avoid that issue. Be warned, as I was told this happens to a lot of XV6700s. If you use a wired headset I would not bother purchasing the XV6700.
The replacement device I received was "refurbished like new" (that is how they do it once you pass the initial grace period). Everything starts out fine, until about a month into it the bluetooth headset (the wonderful Plantronics Discovery 640) cuts out in the middle of calls. Furthermore, it does not reconnect. For whatever reason the bluetooth on the XV6700 is turning itself off. That means I have to manually turn it back on by clicking on the settings (rebooting will not do the trick). This is not exactly optimal if you are driving. Moreover and seemingly unrelated, the device began freezing up with the only solution being to complete a soft reset. Once again, I call up the data team specialists but this time I am told that perhaps it is just a faulty device (after all it was a refurb). This time my replacement is a new device.
Upon using the new phone, the screen is more sensitive than the prior three. No kidding! When talking with the phone next to my face, suddenly I will hear a dial tone because the phone is attempting to make a three way call to who knows where. If it is not trying to make a three way call, then it begins to change settings that are available on the main screen (such as turning on Wi-Fi, bringing up the keypad etc.).
So where does that leave me? I need and like Windows Mobile 5.0. The issues I have been encountering with the XV6700 have nothing to do with the Windows Mobile system. So am I just being picky? I do not think the issues are something anyone spending hundreds of dollars on a phone should expect or deal with; that is why I am posting my experience and you can make your own decision. Point of fact, in looking at the issues I describe, they are fairly severe failures. Freezing? When is that acceptable? Bluetooth turning off mid-call? Nope. A flappy hinge that makes using the keyboard not an option? Unacceptable. Bottom line, I like Windows Mobile, the phone has great specs, but there is no covering up the fact I have had four (4) bad experience with the XV6700. I chose the XV6700 and have done my best to get it to work, but I need a phone that will be around to make calls without a fight. Of the devices that are either coming out or are out, the Motorola Q has piqued my interest. It appears the Q will be available next week. If anyone knows of something else coming down the pipe in the short term, by all means let me know.
Ben
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