Most Verizon phones no longer have analog on them. If you're mainly around Brooklyn, chances are you won't need a tri-mode phone. You could get by with an all-digital phone. As for EV-DO; that's the V-Cast service, where you get to watch premium content at an additional cost a month. You have to have a phone with EV-DO capability, and the LG VX8100 & VX9800 (I believe it's got V-Cast), Motorola E815 & Razr V3c, plus the Samsung a950 & a970. I'm not sure about other phones. If you don't need that content, then look for a phone that doesn't have V-Cast built-in. LG VX6100 seems to be a hit or miss on reception, as I have an uncle who got 4 of them on a family share plan, and only his gives him fits on reception. I have yet to decide what I want in my next phone as I'm eligible to upgrade in July. I currently have the Samsung a650 and has done a great job at reception. I got it for tri-mode because I occasionally travel through Alltel territory in SW Michigan and there are areas that are still analog only. Since Verizon acquired numerous licenses from Leap Wireless (parent company of Cricket) as well as Cricket's customer base in Michigan, Verizon has been busy building out the network in areas that Cricket was supposed to cover, but didn't, and added coverage to those areas, plus filled in holes in existing coverage of Michigan. From what it looks like, I won't roam as much in Michigan now that Verizon has started covering the areas I travel in Michigan, except for Saugatuck & Fennville, but I believe that's temporary.