April 17th, 2009
T-Mobile announces 3G-enabled Sidekick LX
Not content with just the G1 smartphone, T-Mobile today announced the newest T-Mobile Sidekick LX, featuring 3G for faster data speeds and enhanced mobile access to popular social media sites.
The Sidekick LX is available for pre-order starting today on T-Mobile’s site.
The new device offers better video abilities as well as GPS-enabled Live Search, and comes in two new colors — “orchid” and “carbon.” The screen is sharper and thinner than in previous models, the company says.
Above all, the device is built for social networking sites, and all photos of the device feature Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and similar sites in customized apps that update notifications automatically. If the G1 is for you, the new Sidekick is for your formerly text-happy, now social media-happy son or daughter (but you’ll be happy with it, too).
The new LX also offers a 3.2 megapixel camera, support for audio and video streaming, and “energetic mood lights” running horizontally across the top of the screen for notification purposes.
Full rundown of specs:
- Integrated social networking application bundle includes Facebook, MySpace and Twitter
- High-speed Web browsing with 3G support
- Built-in GPS support with Live Search
- 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash
- Ability to record, play and share videos
- Share recorded videos via e-mail and upload videos to social networking sites
- Watch videos on YouTube via the web browser or on MySpace
- Carbon or orchid finish
- Music player with streaming audio and streaming RTSP video
- 3.2-inch F-WVGA screen with high-definition LCD technology with 854×480 resolution
- Support for personal e-mail, SMS, MMS, instant messaging (IM)
- Clients include AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Live and Yahoo! Messenger
- Iconic swivel design and full QWERTY keyboard (manufactured by Sharp)
- Intuitive user interface with Quick Find to search across all applications
- Network Address Book
- Included 1GB microSD memory card
- Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP supports stereo Bluetooth and Bluetooth file transfer to other Bluetooth devices including photo printers
- Dimensions: 5.1 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches; 5.7 ounces
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE worldphone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- Dual-band UMTS/HSDPA (AWS Band IV & Band I)
- 1250 mAh Lithium Ion battery
- Battery: 3G — 3 hours talk time, 6 days standby; 2G — 5.5 hours talk time, 8 days standby
- Software and services provided by Danger, a Microsoft subsidiary.
- Shortly following launch, T-Mobile plans to make available Exchange Active Sync support via the Sidekick Download Catalog so customers can stay virtually connected to work.
Existing T-Mobile customers can purchase the Sidekick LX on April 17 via Web-only pre-sale at www.sidekick.com for $199 after a $50 mail-in rebate — a bit much considering the G1 sells for $179 on T-Mobile’s site.
The new device will be available to everyone on May 13.
Andrew J. Nusca is an associate editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet.
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