The Engadget Interview: Hank Nothhaft, CEO of Danger, Inc.

Last week we kicked off The Engadget Interview with outgoing MPAA president Jack Valenti, this week journalist J.D. Lasica tries out the Sidekick II and speaks with Hank Nothhaft, CEO of Danger, Inc., about the device's upcoming release, the market for wireless handhelds, the cachet of having Derek Jeter and Paris Hilton as Sidekick fans, and whether, if forced to at gunpoint, he'd buy a Blackberry or a Treo.

Give me the 30-second lowdown on Danger. You started back in 2000?

That's right. We're a 3 ½-year-old private company in Palo Alto, Calif., backed by such big venture capital firms as Redpoint, Mobius and Softbank. Most of our 140 employees are in Palo Alto, California, though a handful are in Europe, Japan, and around the U.S.

Let's talk about the market before we get to your new device. What's the evidence that people want a converged device that combines email, web browsing, a cellphone and organizer all in one?

We came at it from a data perspective. The founders and subsequent management who came on board all worked in data processing and SMS. We were all involved in what I call the wire line or the traditional Internet, so we came at this from the perspective of creating a device that would enable the mobile Internet, not a converged device. We were smart or lucky enough to take on new ideas and vet them with actual customers and carriers. There was enough interaction that we learned that to get to market and have a compelling device, we had to add a voice capability to the device.

Isn't the handheld wireless device market hurting? BSquare ended its line of Power Handheld devices. Handspring couldn't go it alone, and now you've got Palm beating a retreat in some areas.

Well, it really depends on the timing and positioning. From the time we introduced our first product in October 2002 to this minute, one of biggest issues in the company was in obtaining a manufacturing capability and a set of financials that would support demand for the product. The demand is there. We've had three periods where we've unfortunately been out of product for months at a time in some cases. So we're experiencing strong demand. The advance orders for the Sidekick II and the Hiptop II [the same product sold under a different brand name] represent hundreds of thousands of units. If you look at the Treo and the Blackberry range of products, I think you'd probably agree that both of those products are doing very well.

Why is T-Mobile the only wireless provider that carries the Sidekick?

Danger works with eight providers worldwide selling the Hiptop device. T-Mobile provides nationwide coverage in the US, and brands the device as the Sidekick. We also have agreements with some regional players. And we continue to go after the other large GSM carriers here in the U.S.

Clearly, we would like to have broader distribution, but we also have a strong presence in Canada and pipeline of potential carriers in Europe.

Was any consideration given to giving customers the option to plug into free wi-fi instead of requiring a T-Mobile subscription?

Today, for a truly mobile device, given the state of development of wi-fi and battery life, it wouldn't be practical. T-Mobile, I would point out, is the leader of creating hotspots in the wi-fi market. Down the road, there is going to be some accommodation by everybody to support not only mobile wide area networking functionality but through Bluetooth or wi-fi converged chip sets or some other means, people like ourselves will be figuring out how to provide both functionalities in the same form factor. It just makes sense.

I've heard the Treo described as geared toward businessmen, the Blackberry for Capitol Hill staffers, while the Sidekick 2 is targeting a younger generation and being touted as a fun toy.

It's utilitarian and it's fun. That's certainly a marketing strategy. We went after what we perceived to be the largest market opportunity. If you look at the enterprise market, it's clear that the consumer market is several order of magnitude larger.

Now that the Sidekick devices have been out for a while, who have you had the most success with? Urban 20something trendsetting gadget lovers?

We're targeted to the 18- to 34-year-old on-the-move person who requires messaging and the ability to get information on the fly. The median age of our customers is 29 or 30.

What's the coolest feature on the Sidekick II?

I think the compelling aspect of this product is the fact that we've been able to blend these applications together on a single device — messaging, email, web browsing, a phone service — with what I would call doing justice to each application. We make it available to the user through a very effortless, simple interface. I'd compare us to Apple's iPod or to the TiVo. That's our major achievement, we've simplified the complexities of all these phenomenal services so mere mortals can enjoy the fruits of this device.

If you're already an AOL AIM user, you answer three quick questions and you're operational — four questions if you weren't an AIM user. You answer less than 10 questions to set up your email account and no questions to browse the Web.

Tell me about the ringtones — you've got some wild stuff on there.

Yeah, isn't it fun? We have a lot of the standard stuff like dogs barking [he shows off a yelping canine] and dolphins chirping for my instant messaging, but we've gone a lot further through our agreements with Sony and others. T-Mobile got Kid Capri to do a ringtone rap about answering your Sidekick now.

You can download about 300 different ringtones for $1.99 or less. It's painless, you don't have to whip out your credit card. With a one-click buy it bills your T-Mobile account.

Can customers upload their own ringtones?

No. There's an effort by the industry to make people pay for the content on these devices.

Too bad. What other little tricks are hidden away?

The application I like the most is the world clock. It's got a regular clock, alarm clock, stopwatch. You can set up four other cities' time zones. You can go to that icon and see the cities you've set up: London, Osaka, Chicago or whatever.

We also have a big following within the deaf and hard of hearing community for our instant messaging and its tie-ins with our other applications. Anyone can carry on 10 simultaneous IM conversations with 10 separate individuals at any one time. It's like a mobile phone for a hard-of-hearing person.

Is there a killer app inside the Sidekick?

There are several popular applications on our platform across all eight of our carriers. For example,  eighty percent of the people do use the device as their primary phone, so that's very popular. But the thing that's really amazing is the messaging activity that takes place. I call them messaging engines. The people who are using IM on these devices are sending and receiving 110 instant messages a day. They're also doing 25-30 emails a day, and they're accessing 25 web pages a day. We also support SMS on this, and have a range of around 4 SMS messages a day.

Did you say 110 IMs a day on average?

Pretty amazing, isn't it? When we launched in October 2002, we were at seven instant messages a day and we figured that number was sure to go down because we had all these crazy, compulsive early adopters. And just the opposite happened — across all the carriers we have worldwide, the number is now 110.

Even though we're 1 percent of T-Mobile's installed base right now, we generate 10 percent of their data revenue.

If you're a developer, how can you develop software for the Sidekick?

We're Java compatible, and we have a software developers kit. People with Java programs can tweak them and port them over to run on our platform, using Java or J2ME. We're just getting started but trying to reach out to the independent developer community. A lot of the new games and applications being launched by us now are certainly all coming from third parties.

What about allowing developers to create user-installable applications for the Sidekick?

Not user-installable. We're a gatekeeper in that sense. they use our developer kit, they reach an agreement with us, and then through us they can have access to our user base.

I just read that you don't see yourself as a device company and that you want to concentrate on the technology but leave the design, manufacturing, sales and marketing to someone else.

That should have said software, not technology. The strategy is and was that our expertise is in writing data applications, Java-based operating systems, and enabling things like online commerce. To prove that our concept was valid and exciting, we had to build a device and then hopefully attract consumer electronics companies to work with us.

So, we've sold several hundred thousand units, and now we've got the interest of several OEMs and signed up our first one, Sharp Electronics, which will be manufacturing the Sidekick II. Our role will be to launch several new additional products with Sharp, and we have an exciting new roadmap with them. And then we'll sign up with other OEMs as well.

In the San Jose Mercury News, Mike Langberg complained about facial oils getting on the unit and wrote, "You'd think someone would figure out how to make a smart phone that didn't end up slimed with human secretions." Response?

I was a little surprised. That's the first time I've heard that. You can use a headset if that's bothersome.

A lot of young people today are using tiny keyboards on these kinds of devices to do thumb texting. Any reports of kids blowing their thumbs out?

Just the opposite with our device. In our original design, we had a relatively large qwerty keyboard, and as we got feedback, we had an overwhelming response not to reduce the size of our keyboard. People find the size to be very useable compared with the alternatives.

The Sidekick II will arrive in stores by late September?

It's fairly imminent but I can't speak for T-Mobile. Soon.

Retail price is $299 with a one-year contract?

That's the list price, yes.

What's the next realm for the Sidekick to assimilate? Video? An MP3 player?

We're working with Sharp, and on the data-centric Sidekick II side, I think you'll see the possibility of a larger screen, perhaps a higher-resolution screen. An easy prediction is that you'll see a higher-resolution camera.

Certainly we'll be looking at things like MP3 because this is a utilitarian but fun device. With an MP3, this would reduce the need for a separate device.

The other thing people like is this device is very good for playing video games, so if you're riding the train or subway, it's a nice way to pass the time. We're selling six or seven times more content through our user base than the industry angle. So we're looking at a lot of angles on how to improve the video game experience on the product.

So you're not big on video?

MP3 would rate much higher than video on the range of what people would like to see on a mobile device. [Aside: A recent survey conducted by Jupiter Research found that although 78% of U.S. residents said they would listen to music on a portable device, only 55% said they would watch video that way.]

Video's coming, but we're looking at other things. Mp3 and wi-fi, with the right power consumption for broadband, would be much higher on the list right now.

You're shooting for profitability by the end of 2005?

That's right.

What comes after the Sidekick II?

Next year we are working hard to have more than one hardware device on the market, with different price points, features and functionality.

Where do you see the Sidekick and devices like it in 10 years? What will they be able to do, and how will they be used?

We're talking about displacing camera, audio players, maybe video players. Certainly 10 years out the industry will have a different look to it. Mobile devices will become a PC displacement product. I don't think you'll see conventional laptops as we know them today — that functionality will be subsumed into some device.

Personally, I'm very much an online person, but I've gotten to the point where the only reason I'd take my laptop on a business trip is to do a Powerpoint presentation. Devices like ours and others are subsuming some of the functions of PCs.

Obligatory celebrity question: I've heard that Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Aniston and Paris Hilton use a Sidekick.

That's true. I also know a guy who ran into Derek Jeter in a sports bar and he does email and baseball stats on the fly. I emailed Mark Cuban this week and he uses our device when he's on the go. We gave away the Sidekick II to influencers. We had a product launch in Hollywood with T-Mobile and gave away the new devices to 30 to 35 celebrities. And since then we've given away hundreds more to celebrities and sports figures. No one's been paid.

If you were forced to buy a cellphone that wasn't the Sidekick II, which would it be?

Probably a Motorola for a voice phone, and a decent data-oriented device like a Blackberry, but that's got limited Web browsing, or the Treo, but its keyboard is so small, so I might have to go upstream to an iPaq.

---

J.D. Lasica is author of the upcoming book Darknet: Remixing the Future of Movies, Music & Television.

[christopher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

His Sidekick II isn't a killer and isn't even close. He got it wrong. Anecdote first.

I have a friend who's niece came to visit from Ireland this summer. I saw her text-messaging her friends back home (clearly text messaging is a killer app, whether locked down by AOL or as SMS), and said to her, "Type in 'The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.'"

It took her as long, with predictive text completion, as it would me with a full keyboard. I use two fingers and get 40 wpm. She uses a nothing-special Nokia that doesn't even have color.

The *only* thing she said she was missing was MP3s.

So when I hear "MP3 later" and "users can't upload their own ringtones", I run the other way. I read "gatekeeper" and run faster. Conectivity is the thing, really, and locking people into a device is stupid unless it's overwhelmingly compelling ala iPod. Sidekick ain't.

[Sam Martin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Although I do like the overall picture here, I too prefer the freedom of choosing to upload ringtones of my own choosing.

[George @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

The only reason I chose a Series 60 Nokia over the Sidekick 1 is because the Nokia gives me the freedom of choice when it comes to applications. If Danger were to open up to developers, I would be happy to pay $300 for their device. As is, I'll stick with a phone that doesn't think I'm too dumb to chose my own software.

[w0ss @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I saw some really awesome things when I got my black and white sidekick.

1. You could email ringtones to it.
2. VNC client.
3. a bunch of user created apps.

I don't know who to blame the German's or Danger but I am not paying 2$ for a ringtone when I already have the CD and the 10 second clip would be fair use anyway. As for user created apps only reason we will never see any really cool apps is because they won't make danger/tmobile any money.

[dfd @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Danger is hamstrung as long as it's tethered to T-Mobile. T-Mobile has the worst customer service and reception in L.A. -- unless, I suppose, you're a "influencer".

[Christopher MacManus @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Throw a 1.5gb hardrive or larger in the next revision of the device and you'll kick some serious ass in the market.

[Mai @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Actually, as much as it sucks, you can't really blame him for it. He admits his company is the software provider. For the features you're looking for, you'd have to go to the service providers, who are the ones who lock out the features. There are other services providers (although not in the US) who carry the Danger HipTop, and they allow users to email ringtones to each other. One can only blame T-Mobile for the lack of capability in the Sidekick, and the impending lack of capability in the Sidekick II.

Having said that, I love my Sidekick. My family loves it every time I pull it out of my purse, and I love to use it to look up things online when there's a debate about something among my friends. It's handy for almost everything I do, and I wouldn't trade it for (almost) anything. Except maybe the Sidekick II. Or a Treo 650 (sorry, but it's a really sexy alternative).

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Hmmm... The dude describes the dvelopment program as opnen, but you call it closed. He's explained how it's open, so what, aside from non-user-installation, makes you say it's closed?

[skallas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

There are two paths to development:

1. Make something, hope they like it, sign a contract, and they'll sell it. Considering there are so few apps (sub 15) for the thing, your chances of doing this are pretty slim right now.

2. Get a developer's license and load your own stuff on only your device and the devices of developers.

I have the color SK and had the B&W previously. I must be on my 7th one because of hardware issues. Its just a lousy phone because of reception and how quiet the (non-ringing) speaker is. Its big like a bar of soap. No storage (cards, etc).

I was hoping the SK II would be smaller and have MP3 playback/storgage, but no dice. I'm moving up to the new Treo when it comes out.

It does have an excellent keyboard and the web browser is neat, but because its a very limited proxy you really can't stray from mobile sites too often. Also, it does not support javascript at all. The screen is also excellent.

I dont know why they keep using the generic term IM when it only supports AIM. Well, AIM and SMS.

At the end of the day its a locked-down thin-client. If you're cool with that, pick it up.

[Walter Shwe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

The Sidekick is the personal equivalent of the corporate Blackberry. For non-techies being dependant on T-Mobile is ideal. They want something straightforward and simple. BTW T-Mobile has better customer service than AT&T and Cingular.

[Greg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

So long as I (a developer) have to consider working with a 'gatekeeper' to get my applications on the device, I consider the Sidekick a useless device for people who are trying not to pay for one of the Samsungs or Treos.

[GD Rothenberg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I loved the original device, especially the way it updated entries via the internet. The one seemingly trivial, but vital for me, omission was a calculator, let alone a spreadsheet. I can't believe such a sophisticated device couldn't even have a simple calculator built in.

[mathew s @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

This hiptop is so 1999 it's not even funny.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

The SKII is obviously not trying to be a true mobile PC. You're not paying for freedom and tinker-ability, you're paying for good functionality out of the box. The "gatekeeper" role is a win-win situation for Danger at the moment because it not only adds revenue but it adds simplicity in the form of a single unified method of adding content to the device.

Hopefully Danger's stranglehold on application deployment is only temporary. I can see them using this to boost profitability in the short term and later transitioning to a more open way of doing things. Let's hope! I mean, before long you're going to have a dozen SK-type devices with open development, equally good web proxy software, and equally good usability. At that point Danger would have no choice but to evolve.

But for a functional, fun tool that's available RIGHT NOW (or in the next few weeks) the SKII looks unbeatable. There's several areas where the hardware alone blows the doors off the competition, and if what I hear is true the software it's likely the same story with the software.

[mikepop @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Just wanted to point out that the functionality for uploadable ringtones is there, but it is up to the carrier whether it is enabled or not. T-Mobile has it turned off; others carriers (regional US and international) have it turned on.

[Lonnie Strachan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Look, you all are really putting the hiptop(sidekick) down, but I've noticed you all seem to not own one.

I've owned a color Hiptop a few mths after it was released here in Canada, with the carrier Microcell Solutions, commonly known as Fido.

I absolutely love this device and I cannot wait to get my hands on the Hiptop II.
Everywhere I go, everyone asks me about my hiptop, and are all amazed by how easy it is to multi-task, retrieve email, Instant Message, browse the internet with full HTML graphics, and love my ringtones.

You can install your own ringtones. Because I'm with Fido, I can easily send myself a .wav file and add it through my email. And there are many third party websites and services with allow you to fetch audio files from virtually any website.
This device is perfect for the busy college student, like me, the always-on-the-go-need-to-be-connected person, and the gadget geek that wants to show a cool new PDA/cell phone.

So thank-you Mr. Nothhaft and Danger Inc. for making this device and helping me acheive excellent marks in college, and to be able to show off the Hiptop to everyone that I see.

And by the way, I viewed and wrote this comment on my Hiptop! :-)

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

T-Mobile built its own nation-wide network. The only place T-Mobile uses Cingular's network is in California and Nevada, where there wasn't any spectrum available to build its own. In exchange for that Cingular roams on T-Mobile's New York network.

[tr @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

...that you have to try out, before you realize how great the device is. i have a color sk, and it meets all my needs, maybe it's because i'm smack dab right on the median age of their users. i dunno, for me, it just works. it gets me information when i need it.

some other comments after reading the above:

-blame the 'can't upload ringtones' thing on t-mobile. other carriers let you do it, t-mobile wants you to pay for only their ringtones

-the skII supports both yahoo and AIM, so using the generic term 'IM' is correct

-i don't use any mobile websites when browsing, regular websites come up fine on my color sk. sure, like everyone, i wish there was java support, but hopefully we'll see that in the future

-i don't know why one would want a spreadsheet on the sk, but as for a calculator, there's one available. it's free from the catalog.

-personally i would never want mp3's on my sk. why bother? i mean, if you're hip enough to have an sk, then of course you're hip enough to have an iPod. ;)

[Craig @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I've had my Color Sidekick for 4 months now, and it's indispensible. Because of my disability, I cannot use a typical cell phone that's so centered on the phone functionality. With my Sidekick, every application gets equal focus. Granted, when you push the Jump button, it goes straight to the phone option in the jump menu, but that's all right. If I cannot understand anyone when they talk, I quickly press Jump+N and it goes straight to notes, and I have people type whatever they want to say on the Sidekick.

It's such an awesome piece of hardware, and I cannot imagine life without it anymore, as I just recently moved out of my parents'. I'm 21 years old, by the way.

Kudos to Danger for being brave enough to step in and deliver such a wonderful product.

[Eli @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

"No. There�s an effort by the industry to make people pay for the content on these devices."

I can't believe his publicity people let him say that. If there was any doubt before, this pretty much cemented my purchase of a Treo.

[President Leechman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Get 'em hooked on the hardware, and charge 'em an arm and a leg for the features.

The cellphone *I* want is one that has a monochrome screen, a huge battery, and bluetooth. No features, no SMS, no "Buy it Now", no downloadable ringtones, all that stuff is going to stay in my PDA where I control the vertical and I control the horizontal.

[PatrickG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Telnet and SSH (which T-Mobile charges $9.99 one time fee for) is available on the SK (and I assume on the SKII as well).

For me, the combination of AIM and SSH when dealing with clients whose servers I run is the killer app. I can be AIMing them and then log in via SSH.

Wants: Bluetooth, some kind of media card to let me transfer things to my desktop, ability to act as a USB modem to a laptop for internet access.

[Eric S @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Not that I really expect any of you to go along, but I know I won't be buying one of these things.
Why?

Because that 'celebrity party' he talks about in the article took place at the Grove in Los Angeles, right next to my apartment building. This 'party' consisted of earth-shaking 'music' that kept my one- and two-year old children up till after 1:00 in the morning on a week night, listening to an amplified rapper yelling Mother-F**er again and again. This was audible a full city block away, with all of the windows closed up tight. I'm telling you, my building was shaking. I'm just lucky the kids didn't learn that word - it was repeated hundreds of times.

The police were called multiple times, by me and other neighbors, and eventually shut them down.

These kinds of irresponsible corporate citizens don't deserve our support.

OK, I'm done with my rant.

[jalamdhara @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

My complaints with Sidekick are as follow

1. No Javascript (absolutely essential for web browsing, Sidekick users have been clamouring it for years. . and years. . and years. . ) Oddingly enough the new Sidekick 2 is supposed to sport a new OS, built completely from Java. . yet. .no java script.. *heh*. .the irony!!!!

2. Screen Resolution on the SKII is EXACTLY identical to the SKI color. . why? GOD KNOWS WHY!. . bad move. .should've bumped it up to 320 x 320.

3. Lack of Software! Enuff said! Palm 5.4 has over 5K softwares. . and Palm 6 is coming out, and it's multi-threaded n multi-tasked. .

4. Softwares that cost a FORTUNE!!!! I mean. . you can get almost all of those softwares off the 'net via opensource for zip. .and they'll do the job gazillion times better

5. Limited to only AIM (well, Yahoo is supposed to be an option in the SKII). .but I would like to be able to download my IM softwares, such as Jabbar and the sort. .be able to run more than just a single account at one time. .and only needing one software to do it

6. quality of the product. . I'm on my 8th SKI, it keeps on breaking down, keyboards keeps on failing, scroll bars keeps on dying, paints keep on peeling. . I suspect that Sharp will churn out a much better quality product than Danger will ever with their current manufacturer.

7. No wifi? what the heck? . . come on!!!! jump on the bandwagon already. . Treo ACE, MDX, etc they all offer wifi options. .

8. Bluetooth. . come on!. .i want to be able to swap my stuff to another sidekick nearby, synchooooohreehhhzzzeeee. zap! . . it would be nice to do it with your computer as well without going through the website and some program that Tmobile has yet to offer.

9. no memory card. . you'll be amazed on how fast I run through the 8 mb limit on my email account. .. . how about a simple memory card where I could store my stuff on in which the SK can access?. .

10. Biggest Gripe with hiptop (sidekick) is. . basically Tmobile. . . They probably are bar none the worst phone svc company out there. Have you ever tried calling them for help? You'll have to go through ungodly number of options just to get a tech help. .then they'll transfer you to the data wireless help. . you basically have to relay your story about 3 or 4 times .. .a pain in the arse. I've never gotten a full 4 bar in my entire sk life. .it's always either at 1 bar or 2 bar. . and I live in 2 major metropolitian area. .sacramento and north san francisco. . It fails all the time whenever I enter a house. . or drops to 1 bar or zero bar. .

----Well, people would say . . "well, don't why don't u go with Treo 650 ace when it comes out. . . well. .simply put. .the keyboard. . it's so frigging small. . that's the saving grace of the Sidekick. . I can type with ease on it.. if the keyboard on the Treo650 was similar to the SKI size wise, I would've dumped SKI a long time ago.

yep, the only thing that's keeping me with SKI is the keyboard. .

Treo650 can do everything that the SKII can and more (especially when Palm OS 6 comes out). . yet it's downfall is the frigging keyboard.

sad huh?

[Edmund Fladung @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

ringtones? the single largest glaring hole i see is that you can't sync your info. You have to use T-Mobile's servers to do that. what garbage. i'd buy this thing in a nanosecond if it worked with iSync and was available in mexico. with syncing capabilities, what use for a pda is it?

[john brown @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

We had 2 employess use the SideKick and Tmobile for over a year and were extremely disappointed. Our primarily usage was in San Francisco bay and surrounding area.

The SideKick is a great concept but is not ready for prime time. It tries to do too many things. Battery life is unacceptable (lucky if it lasts 12 hours even though advertised as 60 hours). It is difficult to use as a telephone.
The web browser could not access sites most of the time. Got tired of watching the "downloading...." message. It does not suppport javascript and does not render most webpages correctly.

T-mobile has really poor voice and data service. Often times you got cut off talking to someone or you sounded like you were on the other end of a string and tin can. T-mobile phone often did not work where a verizon phone worked in the SF bay area (no coverage). T-mobile voice mail often delivered voice mail messages a day later.

We recently cancelled our Sidekicks and switched to Verizon and Nokia regular cell phones.

SideKick needs to dump T-Mobile, improve their battery life, improve the web brower, improve the usability of the device as a phone and they might have a shot.

[Jeff Ray @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I LOVE my T-Mobile Sidekick
-wait-
I HATE my T-Mobile Sidekick

ok, let me explain!

:: LOVE ::
- The ability to have instant access to the internet, whether it be for instant messaging or web browsing is great.
- Once you learn the shortcuts, you can switch between apps very quickly
- having an exact copy of my calendar/contacts/etc available on a desktop is also nice
- Semi "push" email alerts me when new email arrives

:: HATE ::
- you make this soap bar sized device that you expect us to hold to our heads all the time, but don't offer Bluetooth for a headset!?!?! Come on guys- Add Bluetooth already!
- you put an IRDA port on the back that doesn't do anything- what the f**k? the ability to "beam" your contact info is such old technology that it should have been as common as the color screen
- and I know they say (as usual) it's coming soon, you should have NEVER released this thing without the ability to "sync" with a major PIM.

:: NOTES ::
I have had a Treo 600 and thought it was a good device, EXCEPT, everyone needs to remember that the Palm OS works pretty well by itself, but when you start adding 3rd party applications it can become quite unstable. I got rid of my Treo 600 because I was tired of trying to answer a call and then getting a "FATAL EXCEPTION" error and having to reset the device. I need something that is *dependable* and the Sidekick IS (well, when I can receive service).

More info on my Color Sidekick at:
http://www.JeffRaysBrain.com

Cheers!!!

[Kasey @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

You guys, the sidekick is lacking features of which tmobile blocks out. I don't understand why all of you guys whine and b*tch about how much it sucks. I've been a sidekicker ever since I was 13 and now I'm 15. I've gone through all of the sidekicks, had one replacement on the second one when I dropped it a few too many times and said that it was freezing up ;) oops!

So far, I think that SHARP has made it a lot better then the csk and it works a lot better.


My words are:

You need bluetooth, javascript, a memory card to back up stuff like email and maybe even apps(like a camera memory card.), and then final thing is a mp3 player.

Thats my wishlist, and I hope that we get it sooner or later.

[HekG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

The Sidekick 2 is a great little device and I love it but to make it a "perfect" device it desperately needs Bluetooth, Memory Card, MP3 player and of course faster internet.

[HekG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Oh yeah and I forgot to mention the sidekick needs a better camera. The current camera taked horrible picture in low light even with the flash turned on.

[NYSKIIUser @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Don't get me wrong, I love the Sidekick II and the freedom it gives me to be on the go and get info when I want it whereever I am. but I agree with an earlier posting. I think we SHOULD BE ABLE TO CUSTOMIZE our own ringtones especially when we all own CDs as well as WAX (yes, some of us actually have wax in the closet). I would want my phone to be completely different from everyone elses.

How many times will people look to see if their phone is ringing when they have all downloaded the same 10 second clip? Me? I want to play another part of the song that I like. One where I will be the only one answering my phone when it rings.

I also agree that after spending approximately as little as 200 (with rebates/discounts) to $300 (no rebates/discounts) on a phone I SHOULD BE ABLE TO CUSTOMIZE it to MY LIKING. It is MY phone right? Or did I pay upwards of $300 to RENT the phone from T-Mobile/Danger in addition to paying a monthly data plan to T-Mobile along with my voice plan?


Give ME the ability to customize MY phone to MY liking. If I totally blow it up, my problem. I'll pay for another.

[hater @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

the sidekick sucks!!! ha hah hah

[CHIKA FRED (ILLEGAL) @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

THIS DEVICE IS FUCKED IT NEEDS A BLUETOOTH INFRERED MP3 PLAYER MP4 PLAYER JAVA AND MANY MORE IT IS SERIOUSLY USE LESS ESPECIALLY FOR US IN NIGERIA ALSO NO VIDEO RECORDER EVEN BIGFAZ HATES IT MY WHOLE FAMILY HATES IT PLEASE LET SIDEKICK 3 HAVE THEM ALL