The T-Mobile Sidekick iD offers the following features:

* GSM 850/1800/1900MHz
* display: 65k color TFT LCD, 240×160 pixels
* 64MB internal memory
* QWERTY keypad

For more information, see the T-Mobile press release below.

T-Mobile Sidekick iD Press Release

T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announces the new T-Mobile® Sidekick® iD, offering the latest in personalization on a communication device at an accessible price of $99.1 Designed to include the spontaneous communication features synonymous with the iconic brand, the T-Mobile Sidekick iD also offers spur-of-the-moment personalization with easily removable and replaceable exterior panels.

The customizable exterior of the T-Mobile Sidekick iD provides quick modification of the outside of the device with fashionable colors to match anyone’s style, mood or that evening’s outfit. Inside the device, customers will feast on the famous buffet of communications capabilities that make it simple to stay directly connected with family and friends, or stay on top of their favorite social networks and other Web sites.2

The T-Mobile Sidekick iD is designed for virtually anytime, anywhere communication through voice calling and a robust variety of options for messaging-based communication. The signature swivel screen is designed to be a large, color window into one’s own personal life. The screen moves to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard providing the luxury of staying connected through the always-on access to e-mail, instant messaging (AIM®, Yahoo!® and Windows Live Messenger), and text messaging.

“The T-Mobile Sidekick has always been about freedom of expression and communicating with style,” said Greg Andrews, director, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “With the T-Mobile Sidekick iD, we’re expanding on the theme of individuality by increasing the personalization aspect and providing pricing that is accessible to a wide range of consumers.”

The T-Mobile Sidekick iD will have T-Mobile’s myFavesSM available out of the box. The unique myFaves experience provides additional customization as the home screen contains images of the five people that matter most or are called the most often. The myFaves interface also enables access to a straightforward communications menu for effortless calling, texting, multimedia messaging and e-mail. Customers can choose from a range of myFaves plans to get unlimited calling to those five designated people — to any number in the U.S., even land lines (excluding toll-free and 900 numbers) — that make up their personal network.3

Key features of T-Mobile Sidekick iD include the easily personalized hardware to express individuality and style as well as the following:

* T-Mobile Sidekick’s signature swivel screen with a large landscape color display (2.4-inch screen with 65K colors and 240X160 pixels) for improved viewing of Web pages and contacts
* A full HMTL Web browser with enhancements for faster downloading and optimized viewing2
* Beneath the screen, a full QWERTY keyboard ideal for speedy instant messaging and other text-based communication
* Dedicated support for three major instant messaging clients (AIM, Yahoo! and Windows Live Messenger) with the ability to hold up to 10 IM conversations at one time to stay constantly connected to a social circle
* Support for personal e-mail with a dedicated “t-mail” account or use of an already existing personal e-mail account
* Inclusion of myFaves for additional personalization and the benefit of unlimited calling to any number on any network, including landlines, to stay connected to the five people who matter most
* A convenient trackball for one-handed navigation and an improved gaming experience
* A speedy ARM9 processor to handle the massively multitasking communicators
* Replaceable battery with up to 5.3 hours of talk time and 6 days of standby
* Dimensions: 5.12 x 2.48 x 0.87 inches; 6.2 ounces with standard battery
* Accessories available in black, yellow, blue, white, purple and glow-in-the-dark

The T-Mobile Sidekick iD will be available for $99.99 (with a qualifying two-year contract and mail-in rebate) at T-Mobile retail locations and online at www.t-mobile.com beginning April 25. For more information on T-Mobile Sidekick, please visit www.sidekick.com.

1Taxes additional; requires activation of a qualifying two-year service plan and Sidekick data plan.

2 Separate charges may apply to some features. Not all Web sites optimized for mobile browsers.

3 Nationwide plan; myFaves contacts limited to total of five U.S. phone numbers (certain exceptions apply); minimum one-year service agreement required.

T-Mobile Sidekick iD Reviews

LaptopMag has a review of the Sidekick iD and writes, “Text-messaging performance was quick, with just a second or two of delay between sending and receiving. E-mail delays ran about one minute or less. “Instant” messaging proved to be a frustrating experience, with delays ranging from a few seconds to a full minute before recipients got our IMs. … At $99, the Sidekick iD does seem worth it for cash-strapped heavy messengers. The features T-Mobile did manage to cram in work adequately, but the lack of multimedia perks and EDGE data will probably turn off a lot of prospective buyers. If you really need the street-cred, though, we’d advise saving up for the Sidekick 3. But if you want a better multimedia messaging device, go with the comparably priced MOTO Q.” Link.

PCMag has a review of the T-Mobile Sidekick iD and writes, “At $99 (or $249 prepaid), with data service running $20/month (or $1/day prepaid), the Sidekick ID doesn’t really compete with smartphones. It’s closer in price to texting phones such as the Samsung SCH-U740 on Verizon or Virgin Mobile’s Kyocera Switchback. You get a lot more for your money with the Sidekick in terms of e-mail functionality and ease of use, though you also have to carry a bulkier device. Of course for the kids who want to ID themselves as carrying the same handheld as Dwyane Wade or Paris Hilton, there’s no substitute. Expect the Sidekick ID to be available on April 25.” Link.

CNET has a review of the T-Mobile Sidekick iD and writes, “In order to make the T-Mobile Sidekick iD more budget-friendly, some features had to be sacrificed, but we think T-Mobile and Danger took it a bit too far. The iD strips out the 1.3-megapixel camera, music player, integrated Bluetooth, expandable media slot, and EDGE support. Axing Bluetooth? Sure, we’re in full agreement. The lack of EDGE speeds is questionable, as is the removal of MP3 playback and the expansion slot, but chances are good that most users will have a dedicated MP3 player for their music anyway. No, our biggest gripe is the lack of a camera. Many basic cell phones these days include at least a VGA camera, so we find the omission inexcusable, especially since the Sidekick iD is such a youth-oriented and multimedia-centric device. There is a photo viewer installed on the iD, but obviously without a camera, you’ll have to get photos onto the handheld another way (via e-mail, multimedia message, and so on). … The T-Mobile Sidekick iD offers all the great messaging capabilities of the Sidekick 3 at half the price, but the rest of the handheld’s feature set is very limited; too bare-bones, in our opinion. That said, young, cash-strapped kids will find the iD to be a good option.” Link.

PCWorld has a review of the T-Mobile Sidekick iD and writes, “Not only does the well-designed keyboard–concealed by the device’s swiveling screen until you need it–simplify input, but Danger’s attention to user experience makes even routine address-book entries and IM service setup a pleasure. (You get clients for AOL, MSN and Yahoo services.) On the e-mail side, the Sidekick ID supports several variations on POP and IMAP, both with and without SSL, which should cover most people’s accounts. … if you’re looking for a deal on a phone with good messaging and e-mail features–perhaps for a younger user who might enjoy the colorful bumper options–the Sidekick ID could fit the bill.” Link.

Infosync has a review of the T-Mobile Sidekick iD and gives it a 76% rating: “If you think about this phone in terms of what it isn’t, you are left with a lot of disappointing omissions, especially the lack of even 2.5G networking and a camera. The phone lacks the multimedia prowess of the older Sidekick 3, but retains the impressive messaging features. If you or, let’s face it, your younger users at home want a phone with the cool Sidekick styling and the top-notch messaging options that young phone enthusiasts seem to love, the iD is a fine choice. It makes an even better messaging device than phone, unfortunately, but for a small audience, that might be just fine.” Link.

Brighthand has a review of the T-Mobile Sidekick iD and writes, “The T-Mobile Sidekick iD really was conceived as a simple device for the young. But even for them it’s missing the crucial camera that would help it compete with just about every other free phone on the market. Leave out the MP3 player, data port, and card slot, but not the basic camera. But if that means nothing to you, and text is king in your world, the Sidekick iD is a great way to type like a crazy person, and in more ways than one (IM, email, and text).” Link.