It slices. It dices. It connects to the Internet and reads microSD memory cards from your cell phone. It may not be the fastest USB modem on the Verizon Wireless EV-DO Rev A network, but the Novatel Wireless USB727 presents a compelling overall package.

The USB727 is unusually small and light for a USB modem: Although it's 3.5 inches long—just like the Sierra Wireless AirCard 595U and the Verizon UM150—it's considerably narrower at just 1 inch wide and less thick at 0.8 inch deep, so it definitely won't weigh down your USB port. A flip-up loop antenna folds neatly into the end for travel.

On the modem's side is a microSD card slot. Many current phones use microSD memory cards, and if you don't have a card reader, this gives you a way to look at your phone photos on your PC, or transfer music from your PC to your phone. Alternatively, you could just leave a microSD card in there and use the USB727 as a thumb drive. Our Kingston 4GB microSD card worked just fine.

The USB727 uses Verizon's VZAccess Manager software on Windows and Mac. We were able to configure it easily and connect on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OS 10.4.11 machines. As on all Verizon Wireless modems, it requires a $60-per-month unlimited data plan, and the plan isn't exactly unlimited: Verizon has been known to cut off people who are transferring what the carrier sees as too much data—for instance, with multi-day BitTorrent sessions.

We tested four Verizon Wireless Rev A devices side by side during three days in New York and New Jersey. The USB727 came in second in download speed, with an average speed of 691 kilobits per second and peaks of 1.35 megabits per second, besting the three other cards 25 percent of the time. It came in last on upload speed, however, largely owing to one very slow upload in our weak-signal test. The USB727 averaged 377 Kbps up, with peaks at 675 Kbps. In perspective, it was only 10 percent slower on uploads and downloads than the leaders in both of those categories.

The flip-up antenna worked well at capturing signals. It got the strongest reception in five out of eight rounds of testing, and in our weak-signal test it came in second on signal strength.

The USB727 costs more than Verizon's other high-speed USB modems. For the extra money, you're getting some of the best features of the competition: The Verizon UM150's microSD card slot with speeds closer to those of the speedier Sierra Wireless AirCard 595U, all assembled into the most attractive package of any of Verizon's USB modems. Although we're giving our Editors' Choice to the faster AirCard 595U, this modem also makes for a compelling choice.

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