Ericsson R520m Review

Overall Rating

Nice size, good grip, and light in weight. Great silver colour, also in tiger stripe. Large clear screen with 3 size fonts, logical layout of Menu. Tri-band GSM/GPRS, BlueTooth/IRDA, 500-plus names in phonebook, Excellent Voice recognition/activation with Magic Word.

Slightly slow reaction to menu selections. Battery life not longer than five 9-hour days with the Li-ion battery BSL-11 (850ma), BT/IRDA off. However, with BT active, 28 hours stby. Does not dial successfully when battery level lower than 1/3 scale. Keys not lighted up well. The antenna can be used as a great handle!

Great looking Phone, but the fault in the initial software leaves the battery life much to be desired. The R520m has recently been recalled by the Ericsson factory. Therefore I found it selling at a 30% discount in HK.
I am using this phone's BT function from 5 metres with the Hewlett-Packard 545 Pocket PC plus the Nokia BT Connectivity Card (Symbol BT is identical) with no problems encountered.
Using Visual IT's Simple SMS V2.0 excellent software on the HP545 with this combination saves your fingers from looking for the hard-to-see letters on the silver-coloured keys.

Members' Comments onMario.'s Review

• Jon. on 8th Jan 2002

  I have been using a R520m on Vodafone in the UK for a few months now. This is the first I've heared about an Ericsson recall. Do you know what the recall was for? Was it concerning R520m's worldwide or just a dodgy batch sent out in Hong Kong? Any additional info would be greatly appreciated! Please email me on: info@white-net.co.uk

• katherine muirhead. on 27th Nov 2002

  I have had my r520m for 2 months, I like the phone but the one problem I have is with the volume on the earpeace I have to use the slider switch on the side of the phone to turn up the volume during each call. I find this very anoying & Ericsson just said to use the slider switch please email me if you know why they were recalled & how to find out wich software version I have. thankyou katherine. email k.muirhead@ntlworld.com

• Mario. on 30th Nov 2002

  My review was made a year ago. At that time, the recall of the Ericsson R520m was due to a glitch in the software that severely reduced standby time, and affected the early releases only. Details on which early release can be found by using a Search Engine like Google, looking for "Recall Ericsson R520" as keywords. How to find YOUR version of software on the Ericssons? Press continuously *>*<<*< at the standby screen and then select "Service info". About the earpiece volume, most phones are alike in that one uses the control on the side of phone. I found and am using an earpiece/mic with a built-in volume control. Regards, Mario.

• david. on 3rd Jul 2003

  I can get the * entered but how do you get the '<' or '>' to enter in order to find software
  ( you said entering ' *>*<<*< ' would identify software) also what is the edition that needs updating.
  thanks

• Mario. on 6th Jul 2003

  In reply to your short query, I assume you are using the 520m. Place your left thumb on the asterisk lightly, and right thumb on the right and left arrows and press the sequence continuously without reference to the screen. When successful you will access a menu entitled SERVICE, under which there are four selections. Press 1. Then you will see another menu, entitled Service info with three selections. When you select the first, SW information, you will be shown the software revision number, and program names. Press END to go back to the previous menus.
  (warning: do not select the SIM Lock function)This sequence seems to work with most Ericsson models.
  As I said this is a fabulous phone, and I have now three 520m(s) in my family. Although it is discontinued, the latest of three software versions I have noted is the R1J ... I do not know the very last version number prior to the 520m being discontinued. Good luck.

• david. on 10th Jul 2003

  Thanks - I understand but I've found the code to have the last *
  How to find YOUR version of software on the Ericssons? Press continuously *>*<<*<* at the standby screen and then select "Service info".
  I've just got mine & its:-
  R2K
  prgCXC125294