The Sidekick ID: Don’t Call It a Comeback
The Sidekick line is an odd animal. It’s not smartphone nor is it a fashion phone, but it seems to straddle the line between the two so precariously that it becomes everything to everyone. I’ve used the SK3 since it came out and found it to be the best messaging phone I’ve ever used, bar none. Symbian, WinMo and Linux have nothing on Danger’s dead-simple OS and services and form factor.
The SK3 is big, ugly, and immensely practical, yet it is popular with almost every demographic. It’s the young-people’s Blackberry and the older person’s dumbed-down email phone. What, then, is the Sidekick ID. This streamlined messaging phone does almost everything the SK3 can do, with a few glaring exceptions, and is aimed squarely at the folks who can’t afford — or don’t want — an SK3. I’m certain this audience exists, but do they want the SK ID?
T-Mobile sent me the SK ID and I immediately cracked open the SK3 for a quick comparison. As expected, the SK ID has no camera or Bluetooth. Fair enough. The device is about as big as the SK3 with a smaller screen and it is considerably lighter and looks — but doesn’t feel — like a plastic toy, especially with the bumpers installed. These bumpers will eventually come in multiple colors and styles, making them more of an accessory than a structural element. Look for a video of the various bumpers later today.
In the box.
The SK ID costs $99 with a 2-year contract and comes gray covers and bumpers. Its removable plates cost about $20 per set and will be available online and from retailers when the phone hits the streets on April 25. As soon as I opened the box I was drawn to swap out the gray plates with a set of blue plates. While I originally doubted the value of this feature, it’s clear that everyone will want to do the same thing — that’s part of the SK ID’s charm. Like the beepers and Nokias of old, this thing is begging to be stuffed into a fancy case or clad in clear plastic.
The buttons are quite interesting. The SK ID still has a directional pad/earpiece on the left side of the phone and a small squirrel wheel. All of the other buttons are completely covered in flexible plastic. The screen is about 2.5-inches wide, much smaller than the SK3’s, and quite dim. The default theme, a blue style with the ubiquitous SK guy and girl, looks almost washed out. It’s clear that Sharp, Danger, and T-Mo took some liberties with the individual pieces of hardware that make up this phone to get the price below $99. This does not mean that it is cheap or flimsy — quite the opposite. This SK ID actually feels sturdier — and has a better hinge — than the SK3.
SUP LOL STFU
The keyboard is almost the same, with a bit more space between keys and a clearer font. The call and hang-up buttons are a bit close to each other, but otherwise the entire phone is solid.
If you have an SK3, you won’t want the SK ID. It’s not for you. At $99, this phone is priced for the same folks who might get a RAZR, but instead pick up a hot little messaging phone. The UI is exactly the same as the SK3’s. The only real difference is there is no camera or MP3 playback options. Instead, Danger has added a photo album feature that lets you move emailed photos to your album. It is also MyFaves compatible. There is also no memory-card slot nor is there a USB port. Big whoop, right? Trust me. I didn’t miss it.
Baby, Momma
N.B. I’ve been trying all morning to get SK service to pop up on the phone, to no avail (it takes 2-48 hours apparently), but it works with the standard Danger Web interface. Most of the features are off-loaded onto the network, so the SK ID holds almost no contacts or account information and instead downloads the lot from Danger’s servers.
Overall, I’m not disappointed by the SK ID, but I’m not amazed. It fits into a place between “standard” phones like the Motorola RIZR with limited messaging features and the high-end gear offered by T-Mobile and the rest of the carriers. Nothing, not even the Dash, is as easy to use out of the box as Danger’s OS. If you don’t expect to use Bluetooth or a camera — which I suspect knocks folks over driving age out of the running — then the SK ID is a great device. The ideal audience, then, is someone in junior high, and I have no trouble seeing the value of this phone with such a young and fickle audience. Older folks, stay away. There will be phones for you soon, or, if you want messaging without hassles, just get an SK3. If the SK ID is your style, I can recommend it without reservation.
All ｉ gotta say is dat ³ is da shyt u cud do man stuff on it dan sidkick ｉ .d. Wtf is uglyy n biggg ewww imma stick wif ma ³ das ma opinion it looks like ａ two year old toy .·•☆ＬＬ☆•·. But its trueee tmobile better cuim out iwf sidekick 4 better …..
i want the sidekick quad is that the name of it?????
I have a razor phone and a sidekick ID and it is not a big bulky phone! I use my razor 4 phone calls and pics. So the sidekick ID is a great phone if u just wanna use it 2 IM, check email, or web browse.
1 question tho, can u still send pics from the skID?
I HAD A SK 3 AND NOW I SWITCHED 2 SD ID I LIKE IT A LOT I WAS JUSS TIRED OF THAT SK 3 NOW I HAVE COLOR IN MY POCKET AND EVERYTHING….LOLOZ
NOOO TO UPGRADE UR CONTRACT IT COSTS 170 AROUND THERE THATZ WAT I PAIDED
I just receive an upgrade with t mobile and this phone is really good. The sidekick id I recommend, it wont a disappointment. It can’t be compared to the sidekick three but who cares; The only thing i need in a phone is to talk and text, instant message and the internet. If i probably had the sk3 i would have done the same .It cost me $149.99 to upgrade to da SK ID. A college student like me don’t need a camera on a phone. I already own a digital camera and an IPOD. Which LMAO’ doesn’t have an IPOD? I wouldn’t even need the internet cause i have a laptop n’ always driving and working. This phone is of great use.!!
It wont be a disappointment.
hello
hurry the heck up
Should I get the Sk3 or the SkiD?
jus get the sk3 fool, you have enuff now
wht the hek are you doing
nothing being bored
so you have 315
no have 265 but Ke owes me 10 dollars
I’d personally take the skID over the sk3 neday. Who needs an mp3 player on a fone wen u gots an ipod, I mean come on, ud look like a fuckin loser jammin out 2 ur fone. Also the cam on the sk3 fuckin sux nd I have a dig cam neway so its all good. I also luv the diff colors u can choose from. This fone kix so much ass!
whoa u sound hot!
well my birthday is comin up n i want a sk3 but my mom will probably get me the skID cuz its cheaper; but its hella ugly; i want a sk3 soo bad
just got this phone yesterday, i love it, and how you can put the bumpers on. yeah it doesnt have a camera or a mp3 player, but i have a verizon phone too and that has a really good camera with v-cast. so whatever. its good for the basic texting/web browsing. chyll people its just a phone. what more do you want from it.
I just got it and it was 200$, because I buoght a crap load of bumperz.I love it.
im cheap as eva so0o u alreadii kno im finna get this phone ok it aint got a camera? tha sidekick 3 camera sux anyway blurry picsz who wants that?? and u can only put about 50 songsz on tha mp3 ii listen 2 way more than that so iits not worth buying a phone for 299.99 when the features are terrible so0o ii dont give a eff!!
i lIkE iT aNd wIll bE GeTiNG tHis weEKeNd !!!!!!!
I am japanesse
My gf luvs the skID. I was going 2 buy her a sk3 but she rlly likes the ID. Idk y, its much cheaper, but its all good. That saves me like $200.
Personally, I think this is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.
Danger could have at least made it look a bit attractive.
And who would want a plastic-looking phone?
Bleh.
I just really would like it if someone could tell me where to buy it in Australia
I’m trying really hard to find one and I really would like some help
i went to t mobile yesterday just to check it out and this thing is great ….so what if there is no camera sk3’s camera sucked anyways … well i am hoping that i get this phone soon …but should i get this or the daah ..
email me at Cartoon12jb@yahoo.com
i reaaly need to know Sidekick I.d or Dash ???? email it
email me guysss…..
i’ll e-mail u
I already have a regular cellphone.. but was looking for soemthing else to keep me connected.. i HAVE a digital camera.. i HAVE an MP3 player.. and i HAVE a phone..
the sk id works great for me.. i love ittttttt :)
I asked the man at the t-mobile strore a few days ago
He said its 300 w/o service and 99 w
Its stupid for u to pay 300
But t-mobile makes their money off service
I am a kid
And $50 a month is hard for me to pay off
Any tips???
If u can’t offord 50.00 a month don’t get it… can u put more bakrounds on the skid if u no how plz email me @ zattacker3701@comcast.net .
personally, i like my sidekick 3 better. i know how to tweak my sk3’s camera so my pictures turn out great! :] getting a bigger memory card was the best! my sk3 could hold lots of songs, themes, contacts, etc. the sidekick iD is more of a kid’s phone than a teen/adult phone. i mean, seriously. which teen or adult would buy an ugly smartphone with no camera and holds practically nothing? if a kid drops his/her id, no problem. it has bumpers and its more child-friendly. seriously, Danger, when are you going to roll out the Sidekick 4?
does this have a mp3? i mite get this.. i wish this was cheaper pre paid beacuse young kids lke me wnna get this just to text messge and i dont want my parents to keep paying the bills and keep taking the phone away from me and stuff.. it should be cheaper if u buy it straight up
i got my sk3 for 100 and i would never get the skid
The T-mobile Sidekick ID smart phone was officialy established on April 25th, 2007. It’s cost is 100 dollars. 100 dollars may be the price but it lacks many features of the previous sidekick 3. No camera – that takes away like 50 dollars. No bluetooth – another 50 dollars. No mp3 player – 100 dollars.
As you can see the sidekick Id lost its features for a resonable price, but at its point where no one wants to buy it. Some pros are that changeable bumpers will be sold sepperatly. You can switch it up like a video by a employee at crunch gear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGbKZVPjXFc
And at 100 dollars affordable for the kids.
I think the sk I’D is cool cuase it gots changabel plates but is perty dum ot don’t have a camera if it had it I bet a lot of peopel would get it.
I think its a good idea cause every teen (including me) wants one. the main reason is because its so easy to text with. That is the main thing to do with a fone these days. no one calls! its all about the texting.
haha
no camera…..
im getting the sdk3
:D
I just got a sideckick id last week online and i’m freaking loving this toy. Yes it takes 2-48 hours. i think it means 48 hours to be fully connected. But not even the downside of this little toy is a negative. yeah i wish tmobile would make data accesable i little fast and place more antennas. and this toy would just bloom like a flower in … yeah ok.
still haven’t tried downloading videos from high graphics jointsites such as eve-online.com. And my phone only has 1-3 at its full lenght when at home. the hell i know where the antenna is otherwise i’d move under it. i still waiting for the daing game catalogue to be dowloaded. hell i wish i could even play eve in my sideckick. then i would be at the bar playing, drinkin beer with people. then i’d say “last night was a blast” Camera i don’t care. i carry a Samsung t809 for camera and bluetooth. which this so called bluetooth just freaked me out. someone named antonio tryin to pass you something while waiting at the airport is kinda freaky. Could it be cause i named mine pat mcgroin?
I like the Sidekick ID i just recieved one today and i think its a great phone. Yeah it doesnt have features like the sidekick 3 but it is made 2 be a secondary phone. aNd it does have a usb port u have to pop out the little plastic piece underneath the wrist strap. i give this phone plenty KUDOS.****
this may be a stupid question but, can you make calls on the SK iD? Cuz from what im hearing here it seems like you can only text and email… also can you get onto the internet with it?
i’m asking for it for my birthday and i want to know all about it before i get it.
Yes U can call
People said the sk3 is bulky but i held one and its kinda small
I am hearing that the skid is smaller than the sk3
So I will be surprised to see it
okay good. cuz i know alot of people have a cell fone and a sidekick and i dont want two things thats way to much to be carrying around.
NEVER GET THIS PHONE IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A SK3, just not worth it….
If you dont have enough money to upgrade to a SK3 then get a SKID, its $100 cheaper, that is why there isnt a camera and a mp3 player and bluetooth (except for the bluetooth, the other 2 are pretty generic anyway – 1.3mpx camera, and a 64m sd card i think) the battery life is a little longer on the SKID due to this, it has everthing else though the SK3 has, the sidekick is known to be a litlle bulky but it is the most user friendly phone there is … more than any motorola blackberry (this is what i have) or any other phone that has a Qwerky keyboard and runs Ims and the internet, i really think its more intended for younger people, not for people in a business setting
Well I think that the Sidekick iD is a good bet, being that the SK3 had a camara that was really crappy and I have an Ipod why would I need a phone with Mp3 when you cant even put them on as ringers….. think about it and unless you drive you dont need the bluetooth…….
most teenagers already own ipods and digital cameras, this phone is very appropriate for the crowd.
you can get the sidekick id and be happy and in love with it… just remember that with tmobile you get a new phone every year and you can upgrade to the next sidekick when it comes out.
this is raw
This is extra raw