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Verizon Wireless XV6800 finally sees the light of day

The Verizon Wireless XV6800 smartphone is finally released by the carrier with immediate availability online and in stores on December 5.

Bonnie Cha Former Editor
Bonnie Cha was a former chief correspondent for CNET Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.
Bonnie Cha
Verizon Wireless XV6800
Verizon Wireless XV6800 Verizon Wireless

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I know a lot of you have been waiting for this smartphone, and the day has finally come for the Verizon Wireless XV6800 to shine. Starting today, you can purchase the XV6800 online for a pricey $349.99 (ouch) with a two-year contract and after rebates, while in-store availability will begin on December 5.

As the successor to the aging UTStarcom XV6700 , the XV6800 brings a much-needed refresh with an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 Professional Edition, a sleeker design, and a 2-megapixel camera. You also get EV-DO, integrated Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), and Bluetooth 2.0 with support for stereo headsets and dial-up networking. Other features include 64MB RAM/256MB ROM, a microSD expansion slot that can accept up to 4GB cards, a 2.8-inch touch screen with slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and voice-activated dialing and commands.

Now, we're still waiting to get our review unit, but based on the performance of its other variants (i.e., the Sprint Mogul and the T-Mobile Wing), this will be a real asset to business users. But the real decision may be: Should you get the Verizon Wireless XV6800 or the Samsung SCH-i760? Check back soon for a our final verdict.