UTStarcom CDM-180 (Verizon Wireless)

Pros: It's unique looking

Cons: TERRIBLE user manual; Unsatisfactory UTStarcom tech support

Summary: I'm a Verizon customer who bought this phone because it appeared to have everything I wanted in a compact little cell. What I got was a messy, fussy, poorly supported phone that's the worst I've ever experienced. Its voice dialing capability, a pretty big feature, I'd say, isn't even discussed in the user manual. I had to call UTStarcom (they bought Audiovox's cell phone division and will probably live to regret it) to tell me how to access it, and the solution requires programming SEPARATE from that which you'd normally perform when entering a new contact you want to be able to voice dial. Further, now that I have a few contacts on my voice dial list, UTStarcom tech support can't tell me how to activate it. The ringer volume, even when set to high, is inadequate (particularly when compared to any LG I've had, which will wake the dead). Most of the Web sites I browse aren't set up for the phone's landscape format, which means the display seems offset to the left of the screen rather than centered. Lastly, the Verizon version of this phone comes with a screensaver, which annoyingly activates every 5 seconds and has no intuitive way to turn it off. Tech support couldn't help on this one, either, and the manual doesn't address the matter. And while I'm on the issue of tech support, UTStarcom had a bear of a time helping me because the menu on the phones they had seemed different than the one I have. For example, they told me to hold down the send key to activate voice dialing, which appears to work for them but definitely DID NOT for me. I'm getting rid of this terrible phone TONIGHT, and not a second too soon.