How can I convince my VP to replace my work cell phone with penalty fee to pay?

I am a remote employee for a large IT company, and I have a company-supplied cell phone that I use to keep in touch with the office for calls, voice mail, and IM. I absolutely hate my current handheld (HTC TouchPro2) and I avoid using it because it is such a pain. The touchscreen interface doesn't work well in general, and most things are so small I have to use the stylus to accurately interface with the device. Not to mention the idiotic limitations of the OS Verizon loaded on the phone that prevents me from doing some basic stuff like checking my local weather. So, I avoid using it as much as possible, enough that I'll postpone replying to an email until I can get to my company laptop which is connected to the server. I can limp along like this for another 1.5 years, but I would prefer to have a device that I like to use. How can I convince my boss that there is a business reason to spend the money for a different handheld? The cost is going to be $400 USD - not a huge amount for a big IT company, but still we don't spend money unless there is good justification. Had I known that it could be exchanged during the first 30 days for no fee, I would have pursued it then. But I was a new employee and that policy was either not brought to my attention, or I missed noticing it, until about 8 months into dealing with this piece of s**t, when I finally complained. My director said to ask my VP, so I have to come up with convincing case, and I'm hoping you all can help me. Thanks!