Hands-on with the Verizon Wireless XV6900
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The white plastic of the XV6900 creates a significant difference from the Sprint Touch, however. Whereas Sprint’s black version uses soft touch paint, giving a reassuring feeling in the hand, the white plastic casing used by Verizon is hard and slippery, making the device feel decidedly cheap. The white mesh for the speaker holes, as well a lack of branding on the back, give the XV6900 the appearance of a knock-off Chinese device as opposed to a $350 smartphone. Though we would have imagined it was the same, the Verizon screen has noticeably more drag when running a finger or stylus across the screen. We’ll give Verizon the benefit of the doubt and chalk that up to months of use on our Sprint device, but honestly we don’t remember that with the Touch. It ships with a few less accessories as well: there is no miniUSB to 2 miniUSB splitter, no stereo headphones and no memory card which are all included with the Sprint Touch.
However, in comparison to the LG Voyager, the XV6900's display is somewhat more responsive and is easier to use with your finger. Often times when we used the Voyager, we wished a stylus was included, but we hardly ever needed to use the one that came with the XV6900. The included mobile version of Internet Explorer loaded web sites faster and displayed them with greater ease than the Voyager's basic HTML browser. Not to mention that Mobile Outlook is a more capable e-mail program, with the ability to view HTML e-mails and open file attachments.
We should also point out that the new $29.99 Data Plan that Verizon launched on April 14th is currently not available with the XV6900. This leaves consumers with the following four choices:
- Pay-as-you-go, which will charge you $15.36 per MB (1.5 cents per KB).
- 10MB of data usage for $24.99/month, with overages costing $5.12 per MB (1/2 cent per KB).
- Unlimited data (5GB cap) for $44.99/month.
- Data Block, which will block all incoming and outgoing data.
Overall, we were disappointed in Verizon’s offering when placed next to the Sprint's version. We still love the hardware, build quality and size, just like we did back when reviewing the Sprint unit, but it has taken Verizon over five months to launch a device that was ultimately the same as the competition and in the process they managed to cheapen it. Except, of course, for the price.
HTC Touch CDMA Specifications | Review
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92 Comments
3. Metall8cat posted on 19 Apr 2008, 14:23 0 0
Yeah, this was a big disappointment for me. I work in a store and was able to crack this phone open a few days ago. The phone definitely feels cheap, the UI alterations are slightly frustrating, and the lack of Wi-Fi is extremely moronic. All in all I think they could have done a better job with this offering, especially in the multimedia area. Nice try, but I'll wait until the next offering to dive into a new phone
4. elgee02 (unregistered) posted on 19 Apr 2008, 15:43 0 0
If you want to criticize the phone for no WiFi (it's pointless to have with allll the EV-DO coverage, but whatever) that's fine, but make sure you blame the right party. VZW did not take WiFi off (Sprint's version doesn't have it either), HTC did not make this version with WiFi.
5. stink (unregistered) posted on 19 Apr 2008, 17:00 0 0
how does this version cost more than the sprint version??
7. Jason Blacklock (unregistered) posted on 19 Apr 2008, 18:25 0 0
No GPS, are you joking? The phone is useless. Verizon You need to get it together!!!
9. elgee02 (unregistered) posted on 19 Apr 2008, 23:32 0 0
A crappy omission, I agree but that makes this useless? Uhh if it can still CALL people, let alone text, email, and surf then it is FAR from useless.
10. elgee02 (unregistered) posted on 19 Apr 2008, 23:34 0 0
I played with a live VZW version of this phone and I didn't notice any lag at all, something is up with phonearena's test unit it seems.
11. Sammo (unregistered) posted on 20 Apr 2008, 01:15 0 0
I am a loyal Verizon customer but by no means am I loyal because of the quality phones they have. I am loyal to them because of the quality reception I get with them. The one thing I have never understood is, how come Verizon has to come out with some of the worst phones on the planet? I mean look at the Touch. Why is it that while all the other companies like Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T come out with the HTC TOUCH, and VZW comes out with the XV6900? Why alter something already done if there's nothing wrong with it? What's worse is that phonearena said the Touch would be available on the 16th, and when I called a VZW representative on the 15th, they acted like they never heard of the handset. COME ON DAMN IT! Don't insult my intelligence like that. When you have a company insult the public's intellect like that, people lose loyalty. As consumers, there are some of us who aren't as retarded as you might think we are. Then again, there are going to be the retards who will buy the "modified" piece of crap called the XV6900. Thanks a lot Verizon for not only insulting the public but for taking originals and slandering everything about the phones. Good job. Keep it up dumb asses. And I say that with sarcasm dripping like you wouldn't believe.
62. Teo (unregistered) posted on 03 May 2008, 17:29 0 0
Pardon me, but have you thought that Phone Arena's release dates are off? Or perhaps due to unforseen issues, the release date got pused back? Perhaps you are assuming that they always do know exact release dates of products. I can say this, When a rep states that they do not know release dates, it's because of the Legal department. You know how most companies are, not able to release information. Don't assume that Verizon is trying to insult the publics intellect as you put it. Also, put into account that the the XV6900 is the designation given to companies BY THE MANUFACTURER. Not from Verizon Wireless. Also put into consideration that a lot of companies sign Exclusivity Contracts, point and case with the Razr, the Krzr and the Slvr all from Motorola. And then you have to condense the CDMA Technology which is better than your GSM Networks, into the same sized phones. So most of what you see comming from Verizon, technically isn't the fault of Verizon, but of Manufacturers. So before you complain about the lack of what the phones could do, consider the amount of money they are putting into the network to ensure you get better coverage. You want a cooler phone, Fine, go to another carrier. But you yourself said that you are Loyal to Verizon because of the quality of reception. Which in my honost opinion, is far more important than anything that the phone COULD do.
64. Dont have one (unregistered) posted on 05 May 2008, 02:41 0 0
I have to say that I agree. Verizon is a phone company. They don't manufacture phones so you're complaining in the right place, about the wrong person. Similar to what Teo wrote, I don't know why you would take the time to even comment if your service is good, and that is what you contract for them to provide you, service. Did you ever stop to think that maybe the representative didn't actually know the release date? I mean that happens too. My friend said they don't tell them the release dates.
65. HeyTreTre (unregistered) posted on 05 May 2008, 13:39 0 0
ISpeaking from a vzw data support rep VZW takes FOREVER to release phones because of the heavy testing they do. thats why you always see the phones drop on sprint then on vzw But still notice the lag from GSM over to CDMA, blame Qualcomm lol for suing everyone! Its why i jumped ship to ATT I can buy a phone from wherever, whenever I have a decent 3G network. (next revision on HSDPA is 3.6mbps) As soon as RIM cards (i believe thats what they are called) become more popular and compatible i will jump bck to vzw with a rim card and just buy ATT phones (well GSM phones anyway
68. (unregistered) posted on 10 May 2008, 16:10 0 0
your dumb dude, its a SIM card (subscriber information module) they're only used in gsm and iDen phones. verizon and sprint uses cdma. they don't use sim cards and they never will. verizon has some global phones that take an optional vodofone sim card for traveling over seas, but they are only good for doing that. they are not unlockable. go to phone scoop and look up the glossary. you will never be able to use a gsm phone on a cdma network, period.
69. (unregistered) posted on 10 May 2008, 16:29 0 0
oh yeah, and RIM stands for Research in Motion, just another name for Blackberry pretty much
71. almost bought VX6900 (unregistered) posted on 11 May 2008, 22:16 0 0
Sammo, I almost bought the VX6900 but at the Verizon store, but declined with the Verizon employee told me that the VX6900 could not access Verizon's Get It Now network, could not back up my phone numbers, had a limit of 1000 phone number entries, and required me to purchase a service for $45 to back up my phone numbers to MS Outlook. The VX6900 seemed very high tech but is removed some of the other technology that already existed. Is this correct or did I get wrong information or is this a Verizon issue. Does Sprint HTC Touch have the same limitations? Thanks.
74. (unregistered) posted on 12 May 2008, 22:58 0 0
No data device can access GIN. It's not exclusive to the VX6900.
76. (unregistered) posted on 15 May 2008, 01:44 0 0
Sammo, The 6900 will back up to your outlook with the provided cable. You do not have to buy the 45 data plan (why you would want a pda phone and no data I have no idea) and I have over 3000 contacts in mine. I love these types of sites they truly show how stupid people are when they go off half cocked and complain about things that they have very little understanding of. It makes me feel like a genius (i'm not) and also explains why the world is in the shape thats its in. So thanks alot !!!! You are the best!!
