Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)January 2006: I got this phone last week to replace a multiband (GSM and TDMA) S-E phone after Cingular discontinued the multiband service . I was worried that with GSM only I would not get the coverage I got previously, but I was wrong. I get really much better coverage with this phone. In fact, I would say that this phone is the best I have ever had for picking up signals.
The problems: What I have seen reported here and in other reviews are generally true. It's just a matter of how much they bother you. In particular: (1) the light turns off quickly and when it is off you can see nothing at all. (2) The outside buttons (volume and camera) are pretty easy to press by accident. OTOH, they generally don't do any harm, and they do light the light. (3) Nav key is pretty small; I can see someone with big fingers might have trouble (I don't).
The positives: (1) Seems very good at picking up signals. (2)Supports MIDI ring tones which are lots smaller than MP3. (3) Voice dialing seems to work smoothly. (4) Easy to turn ringer to silent when in a meeting or whatever. (5) Several ways to get to contacts quickly. E.g. voice dial; shortcut from Nav Key to contacts; hit a dial key to get to contacts starting with those letters.
And one final point: Go to the S-E web site to do the setup you need. They have a set of web pages to configure the phone; they ask you your carrier, phone number, etc etc and then SMS the right info to the phone to set up all the web stuff you need (except the SMS-to-email gateway, strangely. )
Overall, I am very happy with this phone; it is probably the best I have had. A few nits, but they really don't bother me much.
============================
After a few weeks of use, I am adding the following:
I'm still very happy. Another thing that works very well is the Infrared. I snagged some music from the internet (mostly free MIDI stuff or samples of recordings) and uploaded it to the phone with IR. It was effortless and required little figuring out. I think there was an easy-to-find place on the phone to turn IR on and my computer just pinged and asked me what I wanted to do with my new-found IR partner.
One other small disadvantage: The -beep- prompting you to speak the voice dial is quite faint. I missed it a couple times and just sat there waiting to speak the callee's name. Also, the vibrate is pretty weak. I had it in my pocket and did not even notice an incoming email. Maybe a call would be more noticable since it lasts longer.
And I agree that the camera is not too useful, at least so far. But hey, that is not why I bought it.
I'm still happy with it, and my rating of 4 stars is unchanged.
=============================
And now 6 months later: Ok, ok, the camera button position stinks. I tend to take pictures of the inside of my pockets since it that is where it somehow manages to get pushed. But I did find that you can turn on the light by pushing the volume button twice.
Another issue which is partly my own fault: I tend to miss calls because the ring tone is too soft. That may be because the song I chose starts out too soft. Use care!
====================================
10 months later: I took the phone with me on a trip that took me through Heathrow airport and on to Bangalore India. The multiband-edness of the phone was great...it worked well in all locations. I sent and received an SMS message in LHR, and I actually bought a pre-paid SIM card in India to use in the phone (Air-Tel) and it worked wonderfully. There are even some features that I have never seen before (immediate messages on the screen showing amount of time left for example) that worked fine.
=======================================
Probably my final edit on Sept 30, 2008: Google "white screen of death" and z520. You'll find a description of what happened. Essentially, the phone still works, but the screen is all white. Not very good for using the directory, but ok on bluetooth. You can hold the cover in a certain position and get the screen to work again for a while, but I'm in the market for a new phone...I suppose it lasted longer than most phones gotten with a 2 year contract from a service provider, but I'm not terribly pleased.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Ericsson Z520a Unlocked Cell Phone with Camera, MP3 Player--U.S. Version with Warranty (Blue/Silver)
An upgrade to the venerable z500a, the z520a adds Bluetooth, an upgraded main display and fun lights around the keypad. All this goodness is delivered in a package that is smaller and lighter than its predecessor. With dual screens and a VGA camera with video capabilities, the z520a is a serious next-generation phone. It's the perfect handset for folks who want to get all the latest wireless goodies in one chic package. This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.
Design The z520a's 65,000-color, 128 x 160 display is housed under the front cover while the outside sports a supplementary 101 x 80 color display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The VGA (640 x 480) camera is housed on the front cover as well. The z520a uses an internal antenna-- nothing to snag or break off-- and a five-way button just above the dial pad is used to control most of the phone's menus and features. Up/down buttons on the left side of the phone can be used for quick volume control and menu navigation. USB data and charging ports, as well as a headset port, are located on the phone's bottom edge. And because the z520a's front and rear faceplates are changeable with Sony-Ericsson Style-Up covers, you can dress it up to suit your style. The design also incorporates a unique carry handle on the top of the phone.
Calling Features The z520a's phone book can hold up to 510 contacts with multiple entries per contact. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received and dialed calls. The phone's voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names. The phone also features a speakerphone for easy, hands-free talking. In addition to a vibrating alert, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3- and AAC-format ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. There's even a bundled application that lets you mix your own ringtones with up to 16 tracks. Meanwhile, more ringtones can be downloaded from a provider's service (additional charges applicable). Picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. Because the z520a is Bluetooth enabled, wireless communication headsets can be configured with the phone for total hands-free operation.
Messaging, Internet and Tools The z520a has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun (additional messaging charges apply). Instant messaging is also supported and the phone ships with a built-in email client.
Getting on the Internet is easy with the z520a, as it supports the GPRS protocol. When used with a provider's data plan and the phone's USB or Bluetooth data capabilities the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. There's also a built-in web browser for game and application downloads and mobile web browsing. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.
A number of handy software tools are bundled with the z520a including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock with a timer and stopwatch. Sony Ericsson Sync Station software lets you synchronize your Microsoft Outlook calendar, contacts, notes and tasks with your phone.
Imaging and Entertainment The z520a was designed for serious fun. The built-in VGA camera captures stills and video to the phone's 16 MB of internal memory. Picture effects and custom screensavers, backgrounds, and themes can be set up to fit your personality.
Java support is built into the z520a, making it a powerful gaming companion for both online and offline games. Games are downloadable via the MEdia service or you can use the handset's USB or Bluetooth data connections to load more games and files onto the phone.
Vital Statistics The Sony-Ericsson z520a weighs 3.46 ounces and measures 3.27 x 1.81 x 0.94 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 300 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
