Those of you who
already own Sprint's version of the HTC Apache, the
Audiovox UT Starcomm
PPC-6700, will no doubt feel a bit smug when
reading how PC Mag suggests that Verizon's crippled version of this WM5 smartphone "should send power users
running to Sprint." Besides its black facade, the XV6700 is mostly identical to the PPC-6700 (416MHz Intel XScale,
64MB RAM/ 128MB flash ROM, EV-DO, WiFi, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel cam, QVGA display), but two key Verizon-specific
differences should make you think twice before choosing this handset. First, unlike Sprint, Verizon does not allow the
phone to utilize WiFi and cellular at the same time, meaning that you actually have to switch off the cellular radio if
you're at a hotspot, and thus can't receive calls while pulling data packets. Not that you'll be pulling many of those
packets in the first place -- Verizon charges more for 10MB of EV-DO usage ($25) than Sprint charges for unlimited
transfers($15) -- and forget about Bluetooth DUN, because the big V doesn't offer a modem plan for this model.
Update: Make sure to check out the comments for a not-condoned-by-us workaround that promises to
thwart Verizon's nefarious anti-WiFi agenda.
