Members of the text-messaging generation will be thrilled to learn T-Mobile and Danger have put an end to month of speculation by announcing two new Sidekick mobile devices, each aiming at different segments of the messaging-savvy market.
First, the top-of-the-line Sidekick LX will offer a 3-inch QVGA display—more than twice the resolution of the previous high-end model—along with a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and the ability to send and receive messages with pictures. The LX ships with 128 MB of microSD storage, a stereo hands-free headset, and (like previous Sidekicks) the unit sports a full QWERTY keyboard, along with email and Web-browsing capability. Expect to see the LX in stores October 24 in blue and brown for $299 with a two-year contract.
T-Mobile also announced the Sidekick slide, which has the distinction of being the first Sidekick device made by Motorola: it’s also the first sidekick device with a screen which slides up to reveal the QWERTY keyboard rather than swiveling around. The diminutive Slide is aimed at messaging purists who want the text and (pretty much) only the text: the Slide offers a 1.3 megapixel camera, but lacks music playback capabilities. Expect to see it in earlier November for $199 with a two-year contract.
