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T-Mobile inexplicably revives Sidekick iD, sells for $49.99
Not being manufactured anymore, huh T-Mobile? So explain this, why don'tcha? In a move that we can only assume was made to clear out just-spotted excess inventory, T-Mobile is actually offering up the once-canned Sidekick iD on its website. Nothing looks to have changed -- you'll still be getting an unequivocally low-end hiptop, just to make sure we're clear -- but now it can be had for "just" $49.99 on contract. Which honestly, is pretty insulting given that it was only $50 more in April of 2007.[Via Hiptop3]
T-Mobile's Sidekick iD no longer available? Confirmed!
After what feels like an all-too-brief run on the low end of the Hiptop range, the colorful Sidekick iD has unceremoniously disappeared from T-Mobile's retail site. We don't have any intel on whether it's gone for good just yet -- we're working to confirm -- but tell us: was anyone out there, like, totally going to buy an iD today, only to discover (much to your horror, of course) that it had been removed? Please, do share your horror stories with us in comments while we're getting the lowdown on the situation.[Thanks, Mike]Update: We've heard back from T-Mobile, and it's true -- the iD is no longer being manufactured, though if you're really lucky, we understand that you still might be able to score one from a store that has some remaining stock. Good luck, shoppers!
Sidekick iD now on sale
Seems a bit of a formality at this point, but yeah, T-Mobile is now officially happy to accept your hard-earned $99.99 -- after contract, rebates, and discounts, of course -- for a Sidekick iD. Compared to its older sibling, the venerable Sidekick 3, the iD eschews some arguably unnecessary features like Bluetooth and EDGE data in exchange for a price point friendly to the younger crowd to which the device is squarely targeted. In the end, the choice of goodies to remove ended up being a bit controversial (Bluetooth in particular), but the colorful bits are kinda cool, we guess -- and gussying up an iD with a different color panel is a heck of a lot cheaper than rocking a D-Wade 3.
Sidekick iD vs Sidekick 3 hands-on gallery
We're still confused as to whether it's "id" or "eye-dee", but whatever it's called our Sidekick iD showed up today. Yes, it's the underpowered, EDGE-free version of the Sidekick 3 (or the next step up from the Sidekick 2, depending on whether you're a glass-half-full or empty kind of person), and sure, it looks mighty funny when you peel off its skin and replace the bumpers with different colors. But is it an adequate substitute for the full-fledged 3? Perhaps the following pictorial will help you decide one way or another -- but at very least the software experience is basically preserved (sans camera, media, and Bluetooth apps). Now go nosh on some pics.%Gallery-2569%
Sidekick iD reviewed
A Sidekick for the low price of $99 is enough to get any Danger fan excited -- but just what do you give up in exchange for the price break? That's precisely what T-Mobile is about to push out the door to give the cash-starved (and the frugal) among us a taste of the older, higher end Sidekick 3. LAPTOP Magazine had the chance to sit down and put the iD through its paces, pointing out the glaring lack of MP3 playback, camera, Bluetooth, and expandable memory. On the flipside, though, what's left is still Sidekick through and through: a messaging focus, mobile web surfing and the typical Hiptop form factor that makes voice calling just a tad awkward. More is lacking in the iD, though -- the lack of even 2.5G EDGE data is going to make serious surfing an exercise in frustration. Are there any old-school GPRS fans out there still? We thought not, but there probably are a few Sidekick-for-$100 fans. All told, LAPTOP was digging the myFaves integration (you're next, Sidekick 3 users) but found the nixed features a little tough to swallow, suggesting folks might be better served saving up a little extra coin for the 3 or a Motorola Q to get mobile multimedia done right.
Sidekick iD finally launches
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
Colorful Sidekick ID spotted in its full glory: a rebate form
For some odd reason -- and a most fortuitous one for us -- the rebate team never seems to quite get in sync with the launch team for a good percentage of handset launches, giving us tantalizing glimpses at the future of cellphones now and then, or at least a model name to go on. This time we've got all we could ask for out of this common snafu, since friendly tipster AJ managed to track down a rebate form for the much-rumored Sidekick ID on T-Mobile's site that not only promises a handy $50 to whoever can navigate its tricksy questions, but also gives us a likely sounding April 18 launch date to mull over, along with our first full-on "press shots" of the phone. The cute, pared down exterior is further complemented by a selection of primary colors, as seen above, making this a likely pick for the budget-minded "I don't need no stinkin' EDGE data" fashionphone set. In fact, with prices like these ($99.99 after a $50 rebate), why not just buy 'em all to mix and match with your outfits? You know you want to. [Thanks, AJ] Colorful Sidekick ID spotted in its full glory: a rebate form
Sidekick ID, myFaves support to shore up Danger on T-Mobile
We've noticed that Hiptop users tend to be some of the most rabid, intensely loyal fans of their devices around; the reasons vary a bit from user to user, but the gist seems to be that Danger knows how to make products that simply work with minimal fuss. So yeah, to that end, good news: Danger and T-Mobile hear you guys, and the love is going to get a little stronger this year. First up, myFaves support is going to get pushed to Sidekick 3 owners over-the-air -- as all Sidekick updates tend to come -- adding a critical feature out of T-Mobile's playbook to its most popular exclusive device. Oh, and the Danger options in T-Mobile's lineup are going to get a little more extensive, too (read: two devices instead of one). We knew there was a low-end Hiptop of some sort gettin' baked by California's funkiest mobile platform folks, but the smart money always said it'd be called something a little more interesting than "PV150," Sharp's model number for the new piece. We now have that name, at least in T-Mobile nomenclature: "Sidekick ID." Besides being myFaves compatible, the new model will lack EDGE and a cam to keep pricing low -- like "$99.99 after $50 rebate" low. Not bad, Danger; not bad at all. Just add a high-end Sidekick with support for T-Mobile's odd brand of 3G and you'll have a little something for everyone.[Thanks, The Fish]
