Motorola V710 (Alltel Wireless)

While Bluetooth has made extensive inroads into the GSM cell phone world, the CDMA camp has been less eager to embrace it. So when we heard about the Motorola V710--Verizon's first Bluetooth phone--we were anxious to get one in our hands. Sadly, our initial euphoria quickly faded once it arrived. While the V710 has excellent sound quality, its Bluetooth capabilities are severely limited. Similarly, while we were excited by the prospect of an expandable memory slot, a 1.2-megapixel camera, and an MP3 player, the player and the card slot were not well integrated, the photo quality was average, and the handset's standby battery life was below par. Add in the V710's $319 price tag (without a service agreement), and you get a second-rate mobile that will disappoint beginner and experienced users alike.In the case of the Motorola V710, size comes as a trade-off. While the mobile is by no means small (3.7 by 1.9 by 0.9 inches; 4.5 ounces) and fits only in larger pockets, you're assured of a solid construction and a flip cover that opens and shuts with authority. Styled in an attractive black and silver, it's also comfortable to hold while you're talking, and the prominent front-facing camera lens is well placed for taking photos. The V710's 4,096-color external screen shows the date, the time, battery life, signal strength, and photo caller ID (where available). Generously sized, the external screen also functions as a viewfinder for the camera when taking self-portraits, and it shows clear but tiny pictures for photo caller ID. We did have some complaints though. The display goes completely dark when the backlighting is off, a setting that you can't adjust. Also, you can't change the blue and white wallpaper.