My new curve 8520 arrived today... A notice came with it saying you will need to fully charge your phone before initial use. Is there any merit to this. I mean, if I half charge it does it make any difference?

WEll, surely you want a full charge so it lasts longer so you can actually use the device....

Wow thanks for a particularly unhelpful answer

If you were to go off rumor. If you give your phone a full charge the first initial time then the battery should have a better/longer lifetime.

Last's longer with a full charge
Might last you 6 months longer

I know that applied for old old old phone batteries, but now-a-day's I'm almost positive it doesn't have all that much merit in it.

Given it doesn't really matter, you're going to have to replace it in about 2 years or so, and that's if you still have the same phone.

Sorry, I didnt believe it was unhelpful.
Does it matter if you half charge it? No, but you'll be charging it again sooner than if you let it charge to full the first time.