Sony Ericsson Z520a

[dduudd]

Any thoughts, positive or negative on this phone. I am looking for a phone w/very good reception. Any suggestions would help. Thanks.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by dduudd

Any thoughts, positive or negative on this phone. I am looking for a phone w/very good reception. Any suggestions would help. Thanks.

Hello & Welcome to WA. I have the Z520i and wrote a condensed review here (Preliminary Z520i Review).

I like the phone please let me if you have any specific questions.

[adgsteve]

Originally Posted by dduudd

Any thoughts, positive or negative on this phone. I am looking for a phone w/very good reception. Any suggestions would help. Thanks.

When this phone first came out the Cingular Firmware was trash(Surprise, surprise). Many people had lot's of problems with it. They have since come out with a new firmware version and all who have the new firmware are very happy with it.
If you get one from Cingular check it out thoroughly within the first 30 days and make sure you got one with the new firmware and there are no bugs. (you should, I don't think they will ship any with the old)
Otherwise, Charlyee's review is excellent.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by adgsteve

When this phone first came out the Cingular Firmware was trash(Surprise, surprise). Many people had lot's of problems with it. They have since come out with a new firmware version and all who have the new firmware are very happy with it.
If you get one from Cingular check it out thoroughly within the first 30 days and make sure you got one with the new firmware and there are no bugs. (you should, I don't think they will ship any with the old)
Otherwise, Charlyee's review is excellent.

Excellent point Steve. It is amazing Cingular did not learn their lesson with the 6682 and did it again with the Z520a. As you know I have the unbranded version of both phones and I have nothing but good to say about both of them them.

[adgsteve]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Excellent point Steve. It is amazing Cingular did not learn their lesson with the 6682 and did it again with the Z520a. As you know I have the unbranded version of both phones and I have nothing but good to say about both of them them.

Not only the 6682 but the same thing happened with the 6230. The difference being the 6230 came off the shelves and never got re-released with new firmware.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by adgsteve

Not only the 6682 but the same thing happened with the 6230. The difference being the 6230 came off the shelves and never got re-released with new firmware.

That's right, I completely forgot about the 6230, I had 2 of them both were Cingular branded. One had a production date of 09/2004 and the other 04/2005. Both were problem free but on the first one the POP3 E-Mail didn't work, which is why I got the second one. If I remember correctly it was the one's with a production date of 06/2005, which were supposed to be ESN capable, that Cingular messed up completely.

Another fantastic phone ruined by Cingular software.

[manaleyo]

I have lot's of probelms with my phone. I just got it about 3 days ago and i'm already having problems. First of all the external picture/camera button is extremely sensative. I know that you hold it down to activate camera mode but even if i don't hold it down it will go to camera mode and i will not press the button and it will take a picture, and this is when it's in my hand not in my pocket. It will keep taking pictures. I don't know if the button is jammed or what but my brother and sister have the same phone and they have the same problem. Another question that i have is, what is the material that coats the internal screen because i know that i have not touched the screen or anything and i get scratches on it easily, i don't know if it's a coating layer or what.

[Charlyee]

The external camera button is very sensitive and I have also activated it accidentally. I don't have the screen problem that you are describing though.

[manaleyo]

is there anything i could do about the external button? And my screen situation looks pretty bad because if i kinda slide my nail on my screen it feels like there is a coating on it and now i have problems with reaction speed, when i flip the phone open it takes a while for the screen to come up, also when i plug it into the charger, it doesnt make a ding sound until a few seconds pass by

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by manaleyo

is there anything i could do about the external button?

I am afraid I don't have a suggestion. I just consciously try holding the phone below the buttons.

[manaleyo]

could you check the edit please

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by manaleyo

could you check the edit please

I don't have the phone with me (I am out of town). I will take a look at it when I get back to see if the screen has a different feel. If the reaction time has slowed down your best bet would be to call Cingular for a replacement.

[telecomjunkie1]

Charlyee, trying sticking a small piece of scotch tape over the external camera button, cut to size of course. I tried it on my brother-in-laws phone and it seemed to dull the sensitivity of the camera button as prior to that he managed to fill his entire photo space with pictures of his pocket. Not sure if it still works for him or if he pulled the tape off but during about 10 minutes of testing with and without the tape there was a noticeable difference.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by manaleyo

is there anything i could do about the external button? And my screen situation looks pretty bad because if i kinda slide my nail on my screen it feels like there is a coating on it and now i have problems with reaction speed, when i flip the phone open it takes a while for the screen to come up, also when i plug it into the charger, it doesnt make a ding sound until a few seconds pass by

Hi, I checked the screen on mine this morning. it didn't feel different than any other cell phone screen and I don't have any problems with the reaction time either. I do have the Z520i which is the unlocked and unbranded verson of the Z520a, but I don't think that would this kind of difference. Where you able to contact Cingular for a replacement?

Originally Posted by telecomjunkie1

Charlyee, trying sticking a small piece of scotch tape over the external camera button, cut to size of course. I tried it on my brother-in-laws phone and it seemed to dull the sensitivity of the camera button as prior to that he managed to fill his entire photo space with pictures of his pocket. Not sure if it still works for him or if he pulled the tape off but during about 10 minutes of testing with and without the tape there was a noticeable difference.

Thanks telecomjunkie1, I will give your suggestion a try.