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Mossberg Reviews Verizon EV-DO, AudioVox XV6600, and LG VX8000

Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal was able to review a couple of devices using Verizon's new EV-DO wireless data network. Currently EV-DO is available in 18 cities and lets you download data at speeds of 300-500k per second. Verizon says most cities will be hooked up by end of 2005. Sprint also plans to roll out the service next year.

First up is the AudioVox XV6600 which uses Microsoft's PocketPC OS and also is a phone. The one redeeming feature is the slide-out keyboard as it costs $549 with a 2 year contract and only has 2.5 hours of talk-time. Plus you have to pay an additional $45 a month on top of your voice package for unlimited data. However because of EV-DO it provides "PC connected to broadband" experience in terms of email downloading and web surfing.

Mossberg bashes the LGVX8000 EV-DO phone which will come out in the first quarter of 2005 for under $300. Although the monthly charge will be $25 a month for data, he sees little point in the phone. The email program is weak and the EV-DO speed is wasted on downloading short videos and ring-tones.