Sony Ericsson Z520a

Great, thanks for replying, i been really had my heart set on that cellphone, thanks for reassuring me. Also, what did you mean by using this phone as a media presenter? sounds interesting.
once again, thank you, you really helped me choose.

...and on top of that it's free now.

It's a great phone, but there are a few problems. The outer display is really bad (you can't really see the clock), the camera is average-to-poor quality (nothing like the quality on some camera phones) and the camera button is located on the outside of the phone, there is no lock button for it (at least, not since I've had it). I get dropped calls every so often, not sure if it's the service or the phone, but I never got dropped calls with my old phone (an older Nokia brick), even though I had the same provider. I've heard there is a recall on the phone, which might have fixed some of these issues.

On the plus side, the battery life is great (9 hrs. or something), I only charge it every few days. Call quality is also great (when the calls aren't dropped, that is). The lights on the side and picture-display when someone is calling are also fun features. If it's free, get it. Don't spend more than $20-$30 on it, though.

I'm lookiing at this phone as well, and everything sees to look great, but I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone who already has this phone could answer...

First, the ring tones. Does it have an option for a ring tone that actually just sounds like a regular phone? I'm not a fan of the "cutesy" musical tones, and I find that it's actually hard to find a cell that has the "normal ring" option.

Second, does this phone use a regular headset plug?

Thanks in advance for any information!

Hey, i am not sure about the headset, but what you could do is go to the sony ericsson website www.sonyericsson.com and click on products and search for the Z520, there is an option ther called "try this phone" and it shows most of the features this cellphone has and you can play around with it and check all the ringtones it comes with. Really handy thing. The thing is that the "try this phone" thing hasnt been working for the past few days but i am sure they wil fix it. If no one answers you about the headset, you can go to that website and download a z520 manual.
Hoped it was of any help

I just picked up this Sony headset to go with my new SE z520a phone. Does anyone have any experience with this model headset or its predecessor, the HBH 660? I am still learning how to use it. How does it work with Voice Dialing? I added a number of contacts to voice dialing but when I say the name through the headset, nothing happens. Is there something else I need to do? (Yes, voice dialing is activated.) Thanks

I was relieved to know I'm not the only one who can't do voice dialing with the headset. Voice dialing works fine with just the phone...Bluetooth is enabled, handsfree is enabled, the phones are paired/connected, etc. I'm thinking of returning the Motorola 500 Bluetooth headset and getting a different brand.

Is this working for anyone else via Bluetooth headset?

Thanks,
Jefields

Jefields,
Do you mean that voice dialing works when you turn the headset off and just use the phone? If so, what is the point of voice dialing? I want to use it in the car so I won't have to look down and dial the number while driving. Isn't that the whole point of having a headset so you can drive safely with your eyes on the road and simply speak the name of the person you want to call??? It is against the law to use a cell phone in the car in Connecticut (as in other states), so we are required to use the headset - but I spent another $5.00/month to have voice dialing precisely for this reason. Are we doing something wrong or what? Thanks.

Donato777

Donato777,
From what I understand, you can leave the headset on, but just for dialing, you'd need to do the voice dialing with the phone (just one key to press), then talk via the headset. I'm hoping someone who has gotten this to work will help us out here, as I was hoping to do handsfree voice dialing too.

Jefields

Hey...I recently purchased a Moto HS815 Headset...took me awhile to figure it out and get it working...As far as voice dialing...at least with the Moto....(and as far as I'm concerned or know about...I think with all Bluetooth headsets...you have to have the phone "flipped" open....) For me, when I'm using my Bluetooth Headset...I just leave the darn phone flipped open...(I wish you could leave it closed, etc...) I then press the button on the bluetooth headset..(read your manual how to engage voice commands with your particular headset) and then I simply say the command already associated with the particular contact....It has worked fine for me! Never had any probs!

Not for sure if this helps! But, this Moto Headset works fine with my SE520

I currently am using a HBH-608 headset, no problem setting it up just follow the instructions. There are a few minor things:
once you set up a voice activated contact and press the call button on the headset you need to delay a few seconds before you speak the name. I guess the phone takes a little time to switch to the voice mode. also I don't have to flip it open to call just use the headset call button.
another minor thing is when inputing the voice contact the phone tell you to speak at the tone... I did'nt get a tone...but if you just speak after the notice it should record ok.
so far the phone is great!!! a little complicated when setting up the profiles and voice control.
another thing is when you want to call out when not using the voice call, I punch in the number then wait for a connect signal in my heatset then close the phone. If you still have problems disconnect the "close on flip" function in the phone.
hopes this helps a little.....kaha

My goof.....you can answer the phone with the bluetooth headset without having to open it....my bad....Also, my phone does not give you a tone when you select the voice command to input/save it....I had to wait a sec or two and then speak...worked ok after a couple of tries...also true is when "dialing" wait until the phone starts to dial and then hang up....works great!

Reading thru these messages, someone mentioned they payed an extra $5 month for that feature. Does that mean that the z520 is just voice dialing "capable" and that Cingular (or your carrier) has to be paid to take advantage of that function, rather than this is something built into your phone that has nothing to do with the carrier?

I LOVE this phone -it has really great talk time - bluetooth - infra-red etc! There is a BIG problem with the Speed-dialing - the only number that works is who I have under number 2 - all the other numbers pull a completely different number from the Phone Book.

I know that there is currently a problem with the phone and they have been re-called due to a black screen problem (they told me in the store originally that it was normal before it was re-called for that) - so when they fix that problem this phone will be available again - I am going to swap it out for sure.

BlueTooth Headset - I bought the BLUESPOON AX2 -
WONDERFUL bluetooth headset - it's so small & fits inside the ear (rather than hanging & pulling on the top of the ear) - the sound quality is terrific. Although it states 10 to 15 meters (I can't get a good sound if I go that far from the phone - 5 meters is more realistic) It was so easy to setup and I am looking so forward to having the 9 hour talk time on this headset (most of the others are only 3 or 4 hours)

I am starting to use the Voice Activation (something this BlueTooth Headset has the abilty to do) and I wonder of all the comments of having to have the phone OPEN - did you set the 'Magic Word' that activates the VOICE DIALING? This may be part of the problem. Aslo you have to have the PROFILE set to the HandsFree mode. Then of course you have to have the Voice Dialing Active with the voice commands set for each phone number you want to call.

I had to charge my phone and have not actually tested it yet - but I think I set it up all correctly and once the phone charges I am so excited to test all my NEW TOYS out!

Hope this has helped someone.

I have this phone (Z520a). I use the Motorola H-700 bluetooth headset. I have voice tags recording for each phone entry I have in my phone book. I just press the button on my bluetooth headset (with the phone open or closed) wait for a soft beep (the H-700 beeps when the button is press, but a soft beep will sound afterwards) then speak my voice tag I have saved for that person. Then I will hear that voice tag repeated back to me (for verification). The the phone dials the number (also shows the number I'm calling on the front screen when closed). It's not an extra feature you pay monthly for. Most phones (or at least the ones I've had in the past have had voice dialing as a feature) today have this feature. You can even use this feature with the headset that usually come with the phones (the wired ones with a button on the wiring).

Okay, after ALOT of searching forums like this one and finding that (nearly) everyone is having the same problems w/ multiple bluetooth headset models not voice dialing for the z520a, I did some tinkering and may have found a workaround for our dilemmas. It's not the best soultion, but it does seem to work.

I've tried both the Motorola HS820 and HS850 headsets with my z520a and had the same issues...works great for every function except voice dialing. When I hit the voicedial button, wait a few seconds to hear the phone's beep come through, then say the name...it always comes up ''no match, try again''. Well I think what I've discovered is that the z520a is VERY sensitive and picky about matching voicetags. Not only does it need to sound very similar, but it also needs to be nearly the same volume too. The headsets that are having problems seem to be ones that I suspect have a low microphone level when sending a voicedial request, thus the phone won't match anything. So....what I did is went in and re-recorded my voicetags for each contact. I'd rather re-record thru the headset, but it doesn't seem to allow you to do this. (I tricked it once into letting me, but couldn't duplicate afterwards.) So I had to re-record through the phone, but this time when I'd hear the ''speak after tone'' beep, I'd hold the phone away from my face about 2 feet and still speak the name in a normal voice. The voicetag that gets recorded is still recognizable, but at a much lower volume. Then go in and try voicedialing that re-recorded name through the headset and it tends to recognize the name better. Also I sometimes hold my hand up to my face (as if I were blocking wind from hitting the microphone) when saying the name. This seems to help make the headset mic pick up a louder sound w/o having to scream the person's name into the headset. Not a perfect solution, and takes alot of tinkering to get the feel for the volumes to record & speak at....but it's solved my problems and I am now able to voicedial (fairly consistently) with either headset and the phone can be open or closed (does NOT matter). Hope this helps those of you out there that are having the same problems... Enjoy tinkering! =)

RAZR is old technology. Overrated.

With this Sony model (or any cell phone with Bluetooth), would I be able to transfer the contents of my present address book from one cell phone to this new one? I currently use a Motorola v500 that does not have Bluetooth and I would hate to have to manually insert several hundred names and phone numbers. Thanks

I heard the Z520 is a girls phone, i mean its small and compact and is usually compared to a lipstick to see the size. I read in so many places about it too. Is it true though? or would it be ok for a guy, since i really like it.

I dont know much about cell phone but since they can syncronize address books with outlook express then they all operate on the same file type so i would believe that you would be able to transfer it from your cellphone to a computer and from the computer back to your new cellphone.

Hi xelonth,

To be honest I have never thought of any cell phone as either a ''girl's phone'' or a ''guy's phone.'' A cell phone is a cell phone - unless you put a pink cover on it like they have for the Motorola v3 Razr phone and a few other models. I don't know any guys who would want to carry around a pink phone - but other than that, I plan to choose the phone I like and not worry about whether some stranger is going to think, ''Oh look, that guy has a girlie phone!'' I think you can go ahead and get the Sony Ericsson z520a without worrying about that stuff. The three questions I would ask myself are: Do I like it? Does it meet my needs? Does it feel right in my hand? If yes, then go for it.

I just purchased the Z520, the thing is they didn't have it in stock so i will be getting it only in 3-4 days, so i probably wont be sleeing the next couple of days, i will be waiting. But ye i think it has many features, the only thing i didnt like, if it was a 220x176 screen or larger i wouldnt even hesitate. Too bad its a bit small and most of the games that come out for phone these days are 220x176 or larger and i personally need games since it takes me 3h to get to school and back combined using public transpotr so i need entertainment.

Does anyone knows any good entertainting games that would work on the z520?

Thanx

I'm also thinking about getting this phone, it looks like the best one out there for the money. I have Cingular - anyone know how well the call quality and reception is? I'm in WI.

I'm also wondering about what is shown on the outside display screen - I see that it's in color, but does it display the time and caller ID?

Sorry, forgot to mention that the phone I'm looking at is the z520a. Thanks

I just got my Z520 4-5 days ago....I absolutely love it!

It has awesome reception, way cool light rings, very good speakers/speakerphone, bluetooth, etc....

If you do research you'll know what the perks are on this phone!

My only complaint...is that the outer screen display font/size for the time/date, etc...is a little small...not very easily read...That is if your pointing the display screen directly towards the sunlight(which with any phone would create a glare!), but, nevertheless, the font size of the date/time, and caller ID is small! Also, the background lighting goes out way too quick and I don't think you can change it! Another small complaint is that when the background light does go out...about the only way that you'll see the date/time is if you activate the light! I would have liked for the date/time to be more visible when the backlight is not activated...but, this is just a minor prob!

That is my only complaint....but, I can live with that complaint when you get a "Mid-Range" phone for a "Low Range" price!

This Phone is simply AMAZING! I LOVE IT! I previously had a Moto phone...and so, when I "upgraded", I was determined not to get another MOTO phone! And I am glad that I got this one!

Some people may be disappointed that this phone doesn't have EDGE or an Expandable MEM slot...but, as far as Cingular phones, this one has the most "standard" available memory!

Overall...I'd give this phone a 9.5 out of 10!

lewey

Can you disable the flashing LED lights that flash around the side of the phone whenever a call comes in?

yes there is an option of disabling the flashing LEDs having just the ringing

One complaint I have about so many cell phones, even otherwise excellent ones, is that the backlight goes out very quickly on the number dialing pad. This is a nuisance when you try to dial at night or in a dark room. How is the backlight on the z520a? Is there any way to adjust the time it stays on, or does it go out quickly like most other phones? Thanks.