UTStarcom Coupe 8630 (Verizon Wireless)

For many people, the cell phone isn't just for communicating with friends and family; it can also be a lifeline in times of crisis. Indeed, a very good reason to own a cell phone is simply for those rare emergency situations when you need help pronto. It is with that philosophy in mind that UTStarcom and Verizon Wireless have teamed up to offer the Verizon Wireless Coupe. Called the Coupe because of its sleek and compact design, the phone has three buttons marked I, C, and E just for "In Case of Emergency" numbers. This is in addition to a dedicated 911 button already on the keypad. Clearly, this phone is meant for those concerned with getting help as soon as possible--maybe for senior citizens, kids, or those with specific health-care needs. Aside from that, the phone is pretty basic--no MMS, no camera, no Bluetooth--but if all you want is a phone for emergency purposes, the Coupe fits the bill. The Coupe is very affordable at $19.99 with a two-year service agreement.

Design
As far as basic phones go, the Coupe is certainly on the stylish side. Measuring at 3.8 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.8 inch, the phone draws its design inspiration from its automobile namesake with its long, sleek, yet compact, body. Though the Coupe has a mostly black coat, it is nicely accented by hints of red, white, and blue all around the phone. It is also quite lightweight at only 3.3 ounces and fits nicely in the hand.

The Coupe has a monochrome 1.1-inch diagonal external display on the front, which displays the typical date and time information as well as signal and battery strength. It also shows caller ID when available. A dedicated voice-dial button and charger jack sit on the Coupe's right spine, while the volume rocker and headset jack are on the left.

The Verizon Wireless Coupe has three dedicated keys for emergency numbers.

Flip open the phone and you'll find a very nice and vibrant 2.0-inch 262,000-color display. Colors look brilliant on the screen, and we especially like how clear all the menu options looked. The menu interface is extremely easy to understand, with large fonts all around for easier legibility. You can adjust the dialing font for a larger size as well. We do wish there were brightness or contrast settings, but there is at least a backlight timer for the display.

Right underneath the display is a row of three letters in bright red, "I," "C," and "E," which stand for In Case of Emergency. Each letter represents a button that can be assigned to an emergency number of your choice. Assigning the number is pretty easy--just press on the key and follow the prompts to enter in the phone number. You can also change the assigned number by holding the key down a little longer. This is a pretty excellent design feature that'll make it easy for anyone to contact someone instantly in time of need.