The UTStarcom XV6800 is a smartphone with a lot of business applications and a large 2-4/5-inch touch screen. Though it is not the most stylish of devices, the XV6800 has a very functional approach. The most noticeable thing about the phone is its straightforward look. Not too small and not too large, the device weighs in at 5.8 ounces. The screen takes up most of the exterior and offers fairly good performance, though the color capacity is a bit disappointing at 65,000 colors. That said, pictures and icons are fairly robust and navigating the menus is intuitive and easy. The phone itself doesn't have the solid feel of, say, an iPhone, but the screen does work well in both indoor and outdoor environments. But it isn't until you slide the face of the device to the left that the primary feature of this phone is revealed: a full QWERTY keyboard. Typing out messages and editing documents is quite pleasurable with the sizeable keys, though they're not exceptionally distinct from eachother. The cover slides in a smooth motion, and the screen automatically switches to landscape mode for improved viewing.

Other than the keyboard, most functions on the XV6800 are operated through the touch screen, but there are a few other buttons. Above the LCD are a few dedicated keys for one-touch access to messages as well as the Internet. And below the screen are a multidirectional toggle for navigating the menus (if you don't feel like touching the screen) and buttons for fielding phone calls. Dialing is accomplished via the virtual dial pad, the sensitivity of which is dead-on, minimizing the likelihood of misdials.

Meanwhile, on the sides of the phone are a few other buttons that initiate voice dialing, the camera, as well as turning on or off the ability to access Wi-Fi networks. This latter feature is especially handy for the business traveler who might wander to an area with spotty reception. In such cases, you can be guaranteed of having high-speed access to your email as long as you can find an open wireless router.

The phone is loaded with Windows Mobile 6 OS and offers users the full Microsoft Office Mobile Suite. This means that you can both view and edit documents in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can also view files in PDF format. The phone also supports push email, so you can get your messages in real time without having to continually check for new mail. And if you use Outlook, your calendar and contacts can be automatically synched with your PC through Exchange Server. Also included in this package is a rather useful security feature for those who work in fields with sensitive or classified information.

If you're someone used to multitasking, you'll appreciate the processor and memory capabilities. The XV6800 has 256MB of ROM, 64MB of RAM, and a 400MHz processor. And because it operates on the EV-DO 3G network, surfing the Internet or downloading large files happens quite swiftly. You can also use this phone as a modem, thereby supplying your laptop with a 3G-network connection when you don't have access to Wi-Fi. This can be accomplished either wirelessly (through Bluetooth) or wired (through USB).

The music player is very straightforward and if you plan on using it, you'll probably want to invest in a microSD card, which can be up to 8GB in size. Otherwise, there is an impressive 157MB of built-in memory for storage. Songs sound best if you're using headphones, especially since stereo Bluetooth is supported. The speakerphone, meanwhile, is not exceptional. Treble tends to be somewhat tinny and the bass lacks depth.

Also built in to the phone is a 2-megapixel camera. Though items within the frame are fairly distinct and crisp, the color accuracy for the camera is definitely off, with objects tending to be more vivid than they should be. This was particularly noticeable when taking photos in low-light conditions as the objects had an unnatural glow about them. Pictures can be taken in five different resolutions and four different quality settings. There is also a self-timer, an 8x digital zoom, a flash, and you can adjust things such as white balance. The camcorder offers better color accuracy but the quality of the clips is a bit pixilated. Files can be created in one of two resolutions and can be viewed over Windows Media Player. This same application can be used for watching clips downloaded from the web.

Call quality for the XV6800 is relatively good though not stellar. Incoming sound is clear and has ample volume, with background noise and wind conditions being reduced to barely audible levels. Otherwise, the phone also includes some more regular features such as voice-activated dialing, three-way calling, speakerphone, an infrared port, and a mini-USB port.

The capacity of the phone book is unlimited as long as you have spare memory. Contacts can be paired with photo ID or a distinctive ringer for quicker identification. Battery life for the smart phone is quite good. Often business applications will drain a smart phone's battery, and in this area the UTStarcom XV6800 performs fairly well. The phone is able to operate for up to 324 minutes before recharging is required. The standby time is also fairly impressive atup to 340 hours. Overall, the UTStarcom XV6800 is a reasonably priced smart phone that should appeal to no-nonsense business users.

Pros: Full QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi access, Office Mobile Suite
Cons: So-so camera, poor speakerphone

Warranty
1 year