T-Mobile has officially taken opened up pre-orders for the Sidekick 3 smartphone. Current T-Mobile customers can get their hands on one of the über-hot celebrity-bling smartphones via the Sidekick Web site or at two (yes, just two: New York’s Madison Ave and LA’s Wilshire Blvd) T-Mobile stores starting June 28, 12 days before the unit’s official launch to the public July 10, 2006.
In additio to its expected status as a fashion accessory, the Sidekick 3 is a triband EDGE mobile phone with a full range of smartphone capabilities, including an HTML web browser, compatibility with AIM, Yahoo, and MSN instant messaging, built-in Bluetooth support, a new MP3 music player, a miniSD slot supporting up to 2 GB of add-on storage, 1.3 megapixel camera with LED flash, and, intriguingly, a built-in trackball for easy one-handed navigation through the phone’s functions.
“The T-Mobile Sidekick 3 is a social lifeline; it’s a must-have device for those who need to be in touch with their circle of friends on their terms,” said Chidam Chidambaram, T-Mobile’s VP of Marketing. “Featuring new enhancements and added features requested by avid users, T-Mobile Sidekick 3 delivers best on what it promises: a rich, user-friendly communications experience that meets the needs of anyone who wants to be connected.”
The Sidekick 3 is about 20 percent smaller than its coveted predecessor, sports a removable battery, and, of course, offers its famous candy keyboard for those rapid-fire instant messaging exchanges and uploading images to blogs and social networking sites. Curiously, Bluetooth support is limited to wireless headsets (the hands-free profile) and vCard Exchange: perhaps celebrity security concerns wound up restricting Bluetooth support.
T-Mobile hasn’t yet announced pricing details of its upgrade plan or the Sidekick 3’s general release. But, really, if you can’t wait to get one, you should be more worried about the price tricking it out with Swarovski crystals so yours isn’t the same as everybody else.
