Sony Ericsson TM506 Review
Sony Ericsson TM506
After a couple years of being the only major mobile phone provider in the United States to not have 3G, T-Mobile has finally started to roll out their own high speed data (HSDPA) network. While only in a few cities at this time, and on the proprietary 1700 MHZ AWS spectrum, it’s a start, and the Sony Ericsson TM506 is the first handset to take full advantage of it.
In the Box
Sony Ericsson TM506 Handset
1 Standard 950 mAH Lithium Polymer Battery
Proprietary Sony Ericsson AC charger
Handsfree Headset
Various guides and CDs
Specs
The TM506 is a standard flip style phone that started shipping in early September, 2008. The phone is the first on the T-Mobile USA network with this particular functionality. All prior 3G handsets had the slower UMTS standard, and while good, is limited to 384 kbps versus the 1mbps+ speeds of HSDPA. While there are hundreds of phones that operate on HSPDA, T-Mobile has opted to run it’s network on the 1700 MHZ AWS spectrum. This means that all current HSDPA enabled devices either on the current AT&T 3G network (operating on 1900 and 800 MHZ) or unlocked devices from other parts of the world (on 2100 MHZ) will not be able to take advantage of this higher speed network. Also note, the new network is currently only available in New York, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Houston and Minneapolis. I was fortunate enough to be taking a trip to Minneapolis over Labor Day weekend, so I used the phone while there to test out its capabilities.
A 2MP camera, GPS, Stereo Bluetooth and a video/music player give this entry level phone some advanced features that the average user will appreciate. The phone has 3 GSM bands (800, 1800 and 1900) and 2 HSDPA bands (1700 and 2100) allowing the phone to operate on networks around the world. The phone is available for $80 with a new 2 year contract on T-Mobile.
Phone
The sound quality of the phone was very good. However, there didn’t appear to be any noticeable difference when using the phone on HSDPA vs. GSM. I did however find the service on the device very good using the T-Mobile network. Even on the new HSDPA network which I figured would be spotty, while traveling through the Twin Cities area, I found no areas where the phone struggled to get a connection. Good news for those looking to make the switch. Battery life is fantastic, and I was able to get through many days without charging.
Data/Internet
When I initially asked T-Mobile for a 3G device to review, I was hoping for something a little more robust. However, the TM506 operates nicely for those that are looking for a quick experience in the T-Zones application. Using the phones web browser was a tad difficult because of the lack of a qwerty keyboard, but those that know t9 will be fine. The difference between the speed of the EDGE network and the 3G network is quite large. Those that have been using T-Mobile for an extended period of time will note that the speeds of the new service are much faster on all internet enable applications. The ability to receive email messages while on phone calls is also something the email junkies in us appreciate.
Hardware
The standard flip style design is certainly still appealing. The front of the phone has a decent monochrome display that shows signal strength, ringer status, time and battery level.
Above the screen is the 2.0MP camera that shoots decent shots for emailing or posting to web sites. Low or bright lighting did cause some distortion in the shots, but nothing of much concern. Also, the photos seemed to provide a decent amount of detail.
On the left side, houses the M2 Memory stick slot.
On the right is the volume rocker switch.
On the inside is a 12-key keypad with 2 soft buttons, send/end keys, 5-way directional pad and a power button. The keypad surface is a flat aluminum with cutouts that allow for decent tactile response when pressed.
Software/Features
The software on the phone is the proprietary Sony Ericsson OS that is easy to learn and navigate. Along with the standards, there is a media player to access your photos, music, videos, games and even web feeds. RSS readers have been in smartphone OS’s for quite some time, but this one impressed me. It was easy to setup, and fast to scroll through. I use Google Reader for all my feeds, but someone who wants to get their news on the go will be able to configure this to their liking.
The GPS using TeleNav’s system works like a charm. The HSDPA really assists with downloading data quickly, keeping your maps loading as they should. Under the Entertainment section, there are “DJ” services for your videos, music and photos that allow you to edit your media on the fly. I would prefer to do so on a desktop, but in a pinch, adjusting light levels can be handy.
Overall
The Sony Ericsson TM506 brings together the flip form factor that many want with some of the features of a smartphone. The first HSDPA enabled phone for the T-Mobile USA network brings GPS, Stereo Bluetooth and a 2MP camera to the table.
14 comments so far
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I picked one of these up a few days ago and I’m questioning battery life. I have Bluetooth off and can’t get two days of battery life. I talk maybe 15 minutes a day and send maybe 15 txt messages. I’m in the north Dallas area and I don’t think I’m getting 3G – it’s pretty slow.
That is very strange. I found that it was very good on battery life, only had to charge it a few times in the 2 weeks I had it. I would suggest going back to T-Mobile and getting a new battery. Sounds like something isn’t working properly. Are you in an area with low service? That often times drains batteries quickly as well.
How much is the monthly fee for 3G data service? I did not see the web browser from the menu. Is it the same as the t-zone browser? Thanks for the nice review.
Monthly fee is the T-MobileWeb pricing, only $6 per month! The browser i referred to was the T-Zones one.
Just got one a few days ago and have had battery problems as well, however purchased my phone through eBay as I am only a pre-paid user and I am only getting about 36 hours of standby time as I make 1-2 phone calls a day for no more than 5 minutes and a few text messages. May end up buying a new battery after letting this one drain completely a few times, annoying having to charge it nightly or bring my charger to work.
I do like the phone as I need it for basic needs, if I was a phone junky id probably end up with some sort of smartphone probably an iPhone.
I, too, have the TM506 Emerald, which I (mostly)love. There are a few features I miss from my last phone (Motorola Rizr — yes I said Rizr, not Razr), but not enough to regret it. I can hear my phone conversations much more clearly with the Sony, which was a big issue with the Rizr.
And the point of my post is that I, too, experience limited battery time. It drains quickly down to the 50% mark, at which I go ahead and recharge so that I don’t drain when I need it. I was very surprised to see the review raving the battery life! And glad (of sorts) to see that I’m not the only one with the problem.
Just received my TN506 from T-Mobil and was impressed with the volume, very easy to hear, and much better than other phones I have used. Liked the easy GPS feature, and only disappointment was that while Sony Ericsson claims this phone will work as a tethered modem, T-Mobil has not chosen to include this feature.
I just got my SE TM506 and I reset the factory settings. This said, I don’t have the ‘perks’ of the wallpapers, ringers, games…it reset to basic blah. Does anyone know where I can get all of that back?
I got 2 of these just before Christmas. On one we’re getting 3-4 days on a battery charge. On the other, only 24 hours.
Some people say turning off GPS helps the battery life, so we did that and that boosted it to 44 hours on the bad one, but that’s still pathetic.
I suspect they just have a lot of inconsistency in the batteries they use for these things. Other websites report the same thing – some people with good battery life, others with terrible.
I’m taking this one back to Costco today to see if they’ll swap out the battery.
I got one of these through T-Mobile, and I like it, for the most part, but don’t love it. First, I loved my old Sony Ericsson W800. I’m more used to the “candy bar” style phones. Second, The interface on my TM506 seems slow. Third, the battery life is terrible. My old W800 could go for a week without charging. This can’t go for more than 2 days. I got a new battery through T-Mobile, but it has the same issue. I’m thinking it might be the phone, but am not sure I want to go through the hassle of swapping out this for another one.
I am finally able to upgrade to a new phone & was checking this one out. Right now i have a motorola razr, it drops calls ALOT..and isn’t a very good phone. i was just wondering, is there a monthly fee added to your t-mobile bill for GPS or anything else?..so i’m not suprised when i get it.
If you opt to use the GPS service on the phone, then you have to sign up for the GPS plan.
hi :]
my phone the samsung gravity white and aqua was stolen few weeks ago from my locker at school. i’ve been asking everyone about it and my parents and i discounted it so the hijacker wont go overboard on my cell.
Im going to have to pay 300 dollars on may.13 for a new one which sucks because my dad isnt so happy about it what so ever. dispict the 300 dollar bill i was thinking of getting this phone as a replacement, but i dont know if they will let me replace my phone with a diff kind so please comment me back on if i can or not.
I dont have inusrance but i am going to pay the bill so after paying the bill will i be able to get a reoplacment of a diff. kinda of cell besides the samsung gravity?
im having trouble getting the volume buttons to work on the thing…. i can get it to go down but not up if neone has ne suggestions for me on how to get this to work it would be welcome if not greatly appreciated