Travel Technology - Need fancy pants new phone. Stuck with Verizon. Ideas?

The new job is going to require me to get my email and calendar on my phone (boooooooooooo!). Our hosted exchange will support Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and Good Mobile Messaging (looks like Palm). I am stuck with Verizon for my cell carrier. No, I can't change. If I could, I would. But where I live, Verizon is it.

So....

Any other VZW people have recommendations? I was waiting for the Storm but it sounds like it's a stinker. Something called Navigator (the Bold?) is due in May or so. Doesn't look like VZW has upgraded the Palm line lately. I want something cool, LOL.

Thx

If you want something COOL, I think the best way to go is the new BB Bold or Storm; although, I've heard mixed reviews of both. If you want pure functionality, I have a Palm 700p and LOVE it, but I think the line has essentially been discontinued. There still is, however, the Palm Windows which I have heard good things about. It probably doesn't do email as well as Blackberry does, as that's their thing, but for all the PDA stuff it's the way to go.

If I were to buy a phone now for email, I think I'd probably pick up one of the older Blackberry models, which are bound to be on sale...

I don't think it wears pants, fancy or otherwise, but I just ordered a Blackberry Storm to replace my Blackberry 8830 which I lost in Shanghai. The Storm offers features more or less comparable to the iPhone. I won't get my hands on it until December 3rd (I'm still traveling in China), so I can't say "yea or nay," but the reviews seem good.

I got the Uk version of the Storm on Saturday, tied to vodafone.

So far the Storm seems very good, very easy to use and fits nicely in the hand.
The software seems easy to use and there are lots of additional programs that can be added to suit your needs.

An alternative would be the Nokia N95/N96 if those are available on your network.

the new HTC touch PRO is now available on the verizon network. Nice reviews, LOTs of memory, push email, etc. etc.

My TyTn2 is 12 months old already and feels way too old. The HTC Touch HD and Blackberry Bold both float my boat but sadly, Windows Mobile wins because getting Blackberry access to our Exchange server seems to be beaurocratic hell at the moment....

Oh, and I would gladly have the iPhone, on my terms and without the control freakery...

If you can deal with the touchscreen keyboard, go with the Storm. (It's not so bad - I can type reasonably well, but your opinion will depend on your experience and how much message sending you will do, as opposed to just reading. I wouldn't say the device is a stinker, just too many people with absurd expectations.)

If you want a physical keyboard, go with the HTC Touch Pro, running WinMo 6.1. You could probably get the Touch Pro immediately. Delivery date for the Storm if purchased today would be 15th of December.

There is no Blackberry Bold available on VZW at this point.

You don't mention if you need global roaming. If you do, Verizon does do CDMA roaming on the short list of countries with CDMA networks. For GSM roaming, the Storm will do so, but the Touch Pro will not. Instead you can go with the Samsung Saga which is WinMo 6.1, has WiFi, but is blue, big and bulky in comparison to most other smartphones.

...You don't mention if you need global roaming. If you do, Verizon does do CDMA roaming on the short list of countries with CDMA networks. For GSM roaming, the Storm will do so, but the Touch Pro will not. Instead you can go with the Samsung Saga which is WinMo 6.1, has WiFi, but is blue, big and bulky in comparison to most other smartphones.

I am waiting to try the Samsung Saga when it hits the stores. Rumored to be there by Dec. 1st. It is longer than most, but that equates to a larger screen. It is 320 by 320. For those with less than perfect vision, the size may be a good thing, and it removes the need to select portrait or landscape.

There are also fairly substantiated rumors the VZW is going to supply the Samsung Omnia. Interesting phone.

I am not sold on the Storm. Waiting for more feedback from those that have it. My old XV6700 is holding out for now.

Don't know why you don't like VZW. They usually don't have the best and most exciting phone lineup, but they test them well before release, and their network is generally solid. I have customers who have Sprint/Nextel, and we always get right to point, so we can finish the conversation before the call is dropped.

The BOLD is an AT&T product. Doubt it would cross over to Verizon. I have the LG dare which is one step down from a BlackBerry/Palm product. It's not bad, but certainly not of the calibre of other products for business email etc.
Just my 2¢

The BOLD is an AT&T product. Doubt it would cross over to Verizon. I have the LG dare which is one step down from a BlackBerry/Palm product. It's not bad, but certainly not of the calibre of other products for business email etc.
Just my 2¢

The Bold was so overdue when AT&T finally launched it. Rumors persisted as far back as April/May that a CDMA version would launch on Sprint and Verizon this fall - but the current rumor is May '09.

BB models get converted often enough. It sometimes takes a year or more - look at the Pearl and Curve as examples - but that wait often comes with new software revisions too.

It just occurred to me that the Storm's lack of Wifi capability is more of a downside that I initially thought. With more airlines talking about adding in-flight Internet capabilities, the Storm would leave you out in the cold. I know not everyone wants to be connected 24/7, but for those looking to send their family a simple text message to say hello on a six-hour flight, the Storm will not offer a solution. Unless the hardware is actually hidden in the Storm, Wifi support is not something that can be added later on with a firmware update.

For those that like and need Windows Mobile, that Samsung Saga is looking better all the time.

Don't know why you don't like VZW. They usually don't have the best and most exciting phone lineup, but they test them well before release, and their network is generally solid..

that's why - because the phone choices are quite limited. I ported over from AT&T and I really liked the phone choices there, plus the ability to move from phone to phone just by moving my SIM. Plus I really want an iPhone :-)

Verizon is the only game in town here. And yeah, the coverage is great, and the calls never drop. But sometimes it's all about the blingy phone!

I'm going to look into the Samsung.

the new HTC touch PRO is now available on the verizon network. Nice reviews, LOTs of memory, push email, etc. etc.+1

the new HTC touch PRO is now available on the verizon network. Nice reviews, LOTs of memory, push email, etc. etc.

I'm going to go have a look at it, thanks. My phone is due for upgrade Dec 1 :-)

that's why - because the phone choices are quite limited. I ported over from AT&T and I really liked the phone choices there, plus the ability to move from phone to phone just by moving my SIM. Plus I really want an iPhone :-)

Verizon is the only game in town here. And yeah, the coverage is great, and the calls never drop. But sometimes it's all about the blingy phone!

I'm going to look into the Samsung.
Verizon is guilty of taking too long to get their new phones to market. There is an upside to that. For the most part, their phones work as advertised when they hit the street. If you remember, that can not be said about the iPhone, as ATT did have their issues with it.

Verizon is not much fun sometimes, and their phones are kinda vanilla. But they are dependable and good for business use. Some of these new phone offerings are getting away from the kind of phones they used to sell. The Samsung Saga is supposed to be in stores on Dec 1st. The Storm is out now, but good luck getting one. The HTC Touch PRO was released today. The Samsung Omnia does not have an official release date yet, but it should be soon. Let me tell you, I don't remember the last time Verizon had so many new PDA phones out at one time.

Also depends on the fetures you like and use.

Also depends on the fetures you like and use.

Right now, I use my phone as a phone :-) That's about it. Sometimes I take pictures, and every once in a while I use the alarm clock. But mostly, I use it as a phone, and for text messaging. Occasionally I check airline web sites for flight status, and sometimes I get hockey scores.

I now have a need to get my Exchange email and calendar on the phone. I would use web browsing if it worked well.

But since I'm a geek in a technology field, if I'm going to have a fancy pants phone, it better be cool.

I'm stuck with Verizon too. As my 2-year Verizon contract was up last week, I can now free myself of the miserable RAZR V3 and get my first PDA.

Today I ordered the Samsung Saga (http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/14/verizons-samsung-saga-shows-its-face-as-anticipated/). ^

I think you must have the 29.99 data package with that phone while the dare is 15 dollars but not mandatory.