T-Mobile is bringing back the Sidekick messaging phone from the dead, and this time it will be packing Android and support for its 4G network, PC Magazine reports.
At a press breakfast today, T-Mobile USA CEO Philipp Humm confirmed that the next-generation Sidekick, as well as a 4G version of Samsunga4a4s Galaxy S, will be a4Acoming soon.a4 The devices, which will run on T-Mobilea4a4s HSPA+ 4G network, are expected to appear in the first half of 2011.
We expected the carrier to announce a 4G version of the Galaxy S (we know that LTE 4G versions are headed to Verizon and AT&'T), but the resurrection of the Sidekick comes as a surprise. Danger, the company that created the formerly popular Sidekick, was acquired by Microsoft in 2008 &8212' but the only fruits of that union were the failed Kin phones. (Danger called its early smartphones &''Hiptops,&'' but T-Mobile controls the &''Sidekick&'' trademark for smartphones.) T-Mobile has a better chance at finding success with a new Sidekick with the combination of fast 4G speeds and Android.
Unlike Microsofta4a4s Kin, I dona4a4t suspect T-Mobile will pursue a not-quite-smartphone approach with the new Sidekick. The device will likely still be targeted at the youth demographic, but ita4a4s easier for T-Mobile to offer Androida4a4s full capabilities on the phone, instead of creating an artificially limited experience like Microsoft did with the Kin. And if T-Mobile can manage to deliver the new device for significantly less than current high-end Android phones, it may be able to recreate its former glory with the Sidekick.
Front photo via Umberto Salvagnin
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Companies: Danger, Microsoft, T Mobile
People: Philipp Humm
Companies: Danger, Microsoft, T Mobile
People: Philipp Humm
Devindra Hardawar is VentureBeat's lead mobile writer and East Coast correspondent. He studied philosophy at Amherst College, worked in IT support for several years, and has been writing about technology since 2004. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can reach him at devindra@venturebeat.com (all story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com), and on Twitter at @Devindra.
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