Sidekick iD finally launches

by Ryan Block posted Apr 12th 2007 at 11:30PM

Not that any secret tends to remain well kept in the gadget world these days, but we've finally got official confirmation on the Sidekick iD. This 5.1 x 2.5 x 0.9-inch bugger's gonna run you a cut-rate $99, and features replaceable, colored bumpers, and all the basics necessary to get going T-Mobile style (including myFaves). But if you want the full Sidekick experience (i.e. camera, Bluetooth), you're still gonna have to roll with the 3. Welcome, welcome, teenage wallet-prybar.

Gallery: Sidekick iD finally launches

Filed under: Handsets, T-Mobile, Danger

Tags: launch, sidekick, sidekick id, SidekickId

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

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carlo @ Apr 12th 2007 11:36PM

I never really understood the Sidekicks... It'd be nice if someone who had one posted why they like it.

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john @ Apr 13th 2007 12:13AM

the sidekick is a great phone for young people - usually teenagers who need a PDA for a cheap price. it offers unlimited IM, text, email and web browser for only $20 a month. thats the cheapest internet service of its kind for nay phone and any carrier. It was also so greatly publicized because of celebrities like paris hilton. It also is the only phone that does IM the way it does - its the only IM client on a phone that works almost as good as a computer. The keyboard is also very spacious and great and the whole swiveling screen is an eye catcher - thats why I fell in love with the sidekick, but its beginning to be old and annoying to me now...

hope that helps

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Pete @ Apr 13th 2007 1:32AM

No Bluetooth? What the hell, is Danger so worried that people won't spring for the SK3?

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FyreStarrter @ Apr 13th 2007 1:00PM

wow Pete slow down, I think the sidekick ID is really aimed at the tweener crowd that ages 10-13 sets who have summer jobs or baby sitting gigs & really just need a simple phone & messaging setup. So if you look at that need in the simplest terms do they REALLY NEED bluetooth for them to have a headset they will PROBABLY lose? Just a thought.

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Niola @ Apr 13th 2007 7:49PM

Its a status symbol for young folks. If you don't understand that, then you don't understand pop culture (billion dollar industry) very well.

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carlo @ Apr 14th 2007 1:48PM

Calm down there Niola. It's just a phone and it was just a question, that John answered without being rude.

To assume that I don't know much about pop culture because of a question I asked about a phone that I've honestly seen about four people with in my entire life (at school, at the mall, or wherever and I do pay attention) is pretty lame.

I've seen more people my age with MDAs and D&G Razors as status symbols, not Sidekicks.

Highly Ranked

Tim @ Apr 17th 2007 9:46AM

I've had a Sidekick since the SK1-Color launched. (I have a SK3 now) I'm not quite sure I understand the delusions that this is a 'tinker-toy' for kids. Possibly it's T-Mobiles marketing of the device??

Personally, I enjoy the fact that it has a full-fledge E-Mail client (complete with the ability to have multiple POP3, IMAP and IMAP-SSL connections-- which means you can get your g-mail on this thing too.) along with a fairly good web-browser. The camera pretty much sucks as most mobile phone cameras do. It supports AIM, MSN and Yahoo, which is nice since I'm a technophile who can't be 'disconnected'.

The addressbook of the Sidekick surpasses any contact manager I've found. Multiple phone numbers, addresses, even fields for homepages and multiple email addresses. It's a all-out contact manager. Hell it even has a section to put peoples birthdays in there.

The calendar's UI is also pretty damn good. The fact that the sidekick has a near-real keyboard layout (not a square layout like the MDX and not so tiny that you can only use 1 thumb to type) and the action/feedback of the keys is great. It just kicks butt!! Oh did I mention it has an SSH terminal? Does it get any geekier than that??

The Sidekick is as close to a wearable computer as you can get without having to build it yourself. I'd take a Sidekick over a Blackberry any day.

The only downside to the Sidekick is the closed architecture. You're bound to the iron fist of T-Mobile's restricted list of apps you're allowed to load on your phone. That's my only complaint.

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fyrestarrter @ Apr 17th 2007 3:53PM

Tim, I agree that the marketing of the device makes the SK seem like it's a Tinker Toy to many, BUT there are some obvious gaps there. (I have had a SK since the BEGINNING so much love no hate there) Primary example you brought up, the architecture is COMPLETELY shut off from the rest of the world. The fact that you can only use t-mobile/danger applications or ringtones SUCKS! THe other thing, the mailbox for email is WAY TOO SMALL. If you have an expandable memory card then I should NOT only be allowed to have 6mb of e-mail on my phone!! (this says alot about whom danger & t-mobile think the average user of the sidekick is) So here's what I think they should do. I like the id, it's colorful, lively, & it's awesome for that tenny bopper crowd that many people THINK the sk is for. So keep the ID AND keep the mid level SK. BUT give us an advanced SK with the following must haves: at LEAST 256mb internal memory with at LEAST 184 available. AT LEAST a 3.2 mp Camera & a PLUS would be one with video conferencing capabilities AND record as much video as your memory card can hold. AT LEAST the ability to hold 2gb microSD or better yet a 4-8gb SD card. A FULLY functional Media Player INCLUDING video playback. AND a fully functional PIM with a slightly better calendar & a much better way to backup your contacts in the format they are stored in on the phone (not just SIM only). The ability to USE & assign your own MP3 ringtones to whatever contact you want. (people would still pay for ringtones because not everybody knows how to make their own & some people just don't have the time) I for one would be willing to pay some mucho dinero for an SK like that. And its NOT that difficult to do. Danger & T-mobile act like they have a death grip on the SK & in the process they are crippling it.

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