There has been lots of speculation in recent months that Microsoft was working with Verizon on unleashing an iPhone killer, based on the company's Zune MP3 player. But as Engadget reports, no such model appears to be in the works.

That's just as well. While Zunes are competent MP3 players, they lack the panache to help a phone go toe-to-toe with iPhone, with its superb, touch-based interface. (Complete details in our Ratings of MP3 players, available to subscribers.) Besides, Verizon is also reportedly working on lassoing an iPhone, or at least Apple phone of some sort, for its customers.

Moreover, Verizon, one of the few carriers seemingly not yet hurt by the recession, already has phones that run on Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system, including a touch-screen model called the Samsung Omnia. Windows Mobile phones generally do well in our tests. They allow you to easily create and edit documents, run multiple programs, and switch easily between them. Those advantages are likely to improve when Microsoft finally releases Windows Mobile 6.5. —Mike Gikas