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Sony Ericsson TM506 - amber (T-Mobile)

The good:
The Sony Ericsson TM506 has a sleek, easy-to-use design with a brilliant display. Its functional feature set includes world 3G support, a camera, a music player, and Assisted GPS.

The bad:
The Sony Ericsson TM506's external display is small with limited functionality. It supports only three GSM bands and the speakerphone quality is mediocre.

The bottom line:
The Sony Ericsson TM506 has a couple of faults, but it's broad 3G support and integrated GPS makes it a welcome addition to T-Mobile's lineup.

Specifications:
Band / mode: WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/1800/1900; Talk time: Up to 570 min; Combined with: With digital camera / digital player / FM radio;

The Sony Ericsson TM506 marks a couple of "firsts" for T-Mobile. Not only is it the first Sony Ericsson to land at T-Mobile in several years, but it's the carrier's first 3G cell phone since it launched its 3G network in May. Though it doesn't offer a streaming media experience or a wireless music store, it does have a pleasant array of features and decent performance in a pleasing design. Also, it's an appealing alternative to the carrier's existing 3G models. The TM506 will launch sometime in September; pricing was not available at the time of this writing but it should be less than $100 with a contract.

Design
The Sony Ericsson doesn't make a bold style statement, but that doesn't mean it's unattractive. Indeed, we liked its slim profile (3.7 inches tall by 1.9 inches wide by 0.7 inch thick) and its glossy black skin with the amber highlights. This phone would look at home both in the boardroom and in a nightclub. It's also relatively lightweight (3.4 ounces), but it has a comfortable feel and a sturdy hinge.

Still, we had a few design gripes. The external display is small, rectangular, and monochrome. As such, it won't work as a self-portrait viewfinder and it can't support photo caller ID. It does show the time, battery...

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