4G is all the rage.  Part marketing term, part new technology, it's available in some form at all four of the nationwide carriers.  But despite the heavy advertising, there are still some great 3G smartphones out there. 

The HTC Trophy is Verizon's first Windows Phone device, and another smartphone in their lineup that has global roaming capabilities.  At $149.99 with a two-year agreement, it's priced well given its feature set, and should be included in the mix for anyone trying to choose between one of Verizon's high-end 3G smartphones.

After a weekend of using it on the road, a few first impressions:

• The HTC Trophy looks good.  The black plastic, combined with the red color tones behind the camera grille and chrome around the display, give it a premium feel.  The overall design closely resembles AT&T's HTC Surround, just without the external speaker.
• Trophy has a 3.8-inch display, giving it substance without making it feel too big.  At 4.94 ounces, it fits into a pocket with ease, and the dimensions place it on par with Apple's iPhone 4.
• It comes with the latest version of Windows Phone 7 that enables copy and paste, but beyond that, it's the same Windows Phone experience, with the usual apps like Microsoft Office, XBOX LIVE, HTC Hub, and Netflix.

• The 5-megapixel camera works really well, and as I've said in the past, I love how easy the app is to operate.  Images look nice, and having a physical camera button is a huge plus as well.  For those that love to shoot video, Trophy has 720p HD recording capabilities, and overall, I've been impressed with how the videos have turned out.
• Signal strength has been relatively good, though I've noticed that it doesn't perform as well as competing devices like the Motorola DROID X2.  When testing it in an area with poor Verizon service, the DROID X2 had one bar of service and was clear while the HTC Trophy struggled to maintain the call.  Earpiece volume is exceptionally loud, though - it's one of the few devices that I can keep at a volume lower than the maximum.
• The Trophy is an EVDO Rev. A (3G) device, so as you would expect, data speeds are considerably slower when comparing to WiMAX, HSPA+, and LTE.  It's noticeable when browsing the web or downloading apps.

• Powered by a 1,300 mAh battery, the Trophy struggles to make it through a full day with moderate use including calling, text messaging, and browsing the web.  I'll never understand why HTC places anything less than a 1,500 mAh battery in their smartphones, but here's to hoping that extended battery options will be available soon.

All in all, the HTC Trophy is a great addition to Verizon's smartphone lineup, and at $149.99, should be considered along with other 3G options like the HTC DROID Incredible 2 and Motorola DROID X2.  Stay tuned for more coverage on Verizon's first Windows Phone, and have a look at the unboxing video below!