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T-Mobile Color Sidekick Phone (T-Mobile)

T-Mobile Color Sidekick Phone (T-Mobile)

List Price: $299.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Inconsistent
Review: I have a love/hate relationship with this gadget. First of all as a phone it's awful! Its to bulky and clunky to put against your ear, think small square brick against your face. It is hard to dial from it unless you open it, the screen dialer is too time consuming to use by rolling the wheel to select one number at a time. The internet access feature is the only reason to get this, and then, I'm not sure if the problem is the Sidekick itself or T-Mobile's data service. Sidekick connects when it wants to and does not when it doesn't want to. This is in the same place, I'm not talking about roaming or such issues. T-Mobile offers an unlimited data plan, but the service is NOT unlimited. Overall I've had to give up a lot of consistency in phone service, (and pay a lot for a lot of NO SERVICE AVAILABLE messages from the Sidekick), for the necessity I have while out and about to have access to the internet and email.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: It's been over a month since I first reviewed my Sidekick...
Review: ...and when I got it, I was indeed quite pleased with its features and its usability. I'll keep the original 5-star review below for you to read, since most of the review is still accurate, but I do have to clarify things now that I've been using it for a month: It's not just big. It's TOO big. You have to really consider how you're going to port this monster around. * It's kinda hard to hear people talking to you. It could use a speakerphone or better gain. * T-Mobile's coverage is not nearly as good as Verizon's. * Oh well. It's only a 1-year commitment and people still think it's the coolest little gadget out there. But think hard before you make the leap!

The Original Review:

I am as picky of a techie as one gets. I want form AND I want function in all of my gadgets. And I waited a good while before I finally took the plunge on the Sidekick. Some people think I'm crazy for leaving Verizon Wireless for T-Mobile JUST for a new phone. But let me tell you -- this Sidekick phone ROCKS! I'm a Usability Engineer by trade, and this phone is a case study in good usability. I was up and running on it in no time. The display of the operating system is gorgeous, and the quality of making calls is exceptional. YES, there are a few drawbacks. 1 -- it's big. (But seriously, don't you kinda feel ridiculous putting those tiny little phones up to your ear that practically get lost in your hand?) 2 -- the Sidekick wireless network isn't available everywhere, but so far for me -- most everywhere. and 3 -- it's big. (Did I mention it's big?) But if you are looking for a device that lets you use your AOL Instant Messenger account, browse the web, make calls, play games, use applications, etc. -- all from a beautiful color screen with a QWERTY keyboard (!!) -- then this is definitely the phone for you. (And it doesn't hurt that people will constantly be looking over your shoulder saying, "Hey! That's a really cool phone ya got there!") T-Mobile may not have the same reliability for coverage that Verizon Wireless has, but they sure have a better selection of phones. So it's up to you to weigh the pros and cons -- but I'd recommend the Sidekick in a heartbeat!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Another frustrated Sidekick user
Review: I bought this phone about 4 months ago with the data plan. The very first week I changed jobs and dint need the data plan any more. So I called the customer reps and asked them if I should exchange the phone now that i dont have the data plan. She told me that it work just like a regular phone. The first 3 months I would keep getting the SIM card is not ready message. I ignored it as I like all the other features. One day while I was on a call the phone died on me and all my contacts were gone. They sent a replacement phone and now the SIM card was inserted without a data plan. The Activation screen never goes away. I have to press Menu + L one to many times to get to the screen. Then may be I also have to hit OK for the SIM card is not ready message. Then I get to make calls. While call waiting I dont get to see who is calling me because the activation screen is on always.

T-mobile will not stand by thier words. They say i will have to take that with Amazon. Iam just getting tossed around. Its VERY BAD T-MOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE. Period. Things happen, but we need good people to take care of you and for the money you are paying.

The bottom line
-The phone has great features for the price
-The service providers for the phone and the plan SUCKS.
-DOnt buy this phone if you want to downgrade your plan ever, that does not include data service.

Hope this helps.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great, with only a few limitations.
Review: The Sidekick is a giant step forward in wireless web. The discreet and sleek Hiptop computer allows for Web, IM, email, as well as phone and PDA-like features. THe Sidekick sports a flipscreen, making it even smaller and easy to carry.

The Danger OS is easy-to-use and supports the system, but it creates the system's few limitations. Because the OS' code is proprietary, not much software development goes on.

With Unlimited plans going for 30-40 dollars, though, the Sidekick is a must-have for connecting on the go. T-Mobile's little computer will certainly become your communication sidekick.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I have found this product to be very interesting...
Review: Of Course, I own the ancient Nokia 3390 But, If I had a choice... I would own this...

and furthermore... T-mobile doesn't suck... I have not had any problem with them... the only time you might have a problem is if you don't pay your bill ON TIME!! Which I do, and I have NEVER had a problem with service or anything... Sure, if you wanna pay out of your nose for AT&T or SPRINT... You might as well go with Verizon -- the people who CAN'T HEAR YOU NOW! Go right ahead...

In fact, I have had nothing but good things from T-mobile... Like a CREDIT LIMIT INCREASE!! and they totally suprised me with it!! Let's see Verizon, AT&T and Sprint TOP THAT!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Can't I give it zero stars?
Review: Combining this phone, which is theoretically cool, with the T-Mobile customer service is a complete nightmare.

First, the phone/PDA and why it's terrible:

1. You can IMPORT contacts and dates into the Sidekick, but you cannot EXPORT contacts and dates. That means, once you begin to rely on this for your address book and date book, you're totally dependent on it in the future, because there is no way to get that information back into your Palm, your Outlook, etc.

2. It is impossible/extremely dangerous to use while driving. It really takes two hands to use this phone, no matter how dexterous you are, and well -- it's just not safe to use unless you're pulled over.

3. The Calendar interface is extremely difficult to use on the handheld. It's not so bad on the Web-based desktop, but it's very hard to see all of your appointments more than a couple of days at a time.

4. It breaks/fails all the time. So far, I've had to hard-reset the thing at least 3 times, and I've already had to send it back to T-mobile for repairs once.

5. Little/no 3rd party software that is compatible. That means you're stuck with the three games that they have available, and no other means of getting other applications, i.e., expense reporter, etc.

6. The Web Browser is not java-enabled. I can't even begin to tell you how this makes this soooo useless.

7. POP3 mail retrieval is spotty at best. You often have to force retrieval of mail, and even then, you don't always get it.

8. The information that you enter into the Sidekick is not downloadable to the T-mobile SIM card. Now, the point of the SIM card to is to store all of your information, both as a consumer and a user, so you could move your SIM card to another phone and preserve all of your telephone numbers, etc. Well, since you can't download that information to the SIM card, when you move it to another phone, guess what? You have to enter ALL of your numbers again. What a waste of time!

9. The web-based desktop interface is SUPPOSED to automatically sync wirelessly with the handheld. Bah! It does not. It will not show all of the contacts you load, and sometimes not your appointments. Hello! How unhelpful is that?

T-Mobile Service:

1. Has given me inconsistent information about the actual handheld itself -- on every single call that I have made to them -- I estimate I have called them about 20 times in the past two months.

2. Has deliberately lied to me about their policies.

3. Has told me that they would credit my account/not charge me for certain items/services, and then gone ahead and charged me anyway.

4. Has told me that my issues with the phone and their service are "not [their] problem"! Umm, hello!!! Aren't you Customer Service?

5. Are just downright rude sometimes -- I've been hung up on several times -- these are not dropped calls, since I haven't called them from the phone ever (since it was broken most of the time). No, it was very, very deliberate.

Save your money -- actually, save your aggravation. Buy a Handspring Treo instead. My husband has one, and he loves it. Plus, Palm service is sooooo much better!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: ~THE 10 ReaSonS Not To bUy An SiDEkiCk~
Review: ..when i walked in my local inconvient T'Mobile branch I always use to look over to the "SIDEKICK" display it looked so neat and cool to me, and no one i knew had it...but I didn't plan on gettin it anytime soon...so months went on and I'm finally out of the lifetime contract i was in with T'Mobile...3 months after being with no contract..the sidekick comes to mind i'm like sure why not..all the customer reps. were like its so multi-task u should buy..it has this and that...and u dont see many with it i soon learned why (the same people who sold it were the same ones who refused to believe the status of their no'good product)..i purchased it as a gift to my self for christmas...since the begining of dec..i have nothing but a "bleep" headache from this "bleep" phone im literaly in tears!..since day one it was cool everyone was like day'um gul your phone is hot, ya know blah,blah,blah! 2weeks into this hella whatever u call it i was charged $38.97 for digital roamin i mean its like...im paying my bill over the phone they get everything done but something is wrong it is too high! i call back shes like oh u were charged for digital roamin im like wtf is that???i havent roamed anywhere, by the time i got to the 3rd rep.*mind u that all customer service calls are recored..i tried to keep my cool* he squared it away and gave me a credit 2 my account, im like that is no ggod to me i want my cash! the following month im ready to pay my bill their like oh its such&such amount well im like how much was credited they're like oh mame we cant tell u that exactly, if i wouldnt have paid my service would no longer exist!..i have gon through 3 of them and $300 of over usage charges for ~NoSiGNaL~ calls this phone is garbage!..that is if u actually want to talk! I just wanted a P-H-O-N-E! not this piece of...well ya know I've had all i can take it can't get any worser!

1.it is so annoyin to keep flippin it open sometimes!
2.I haven't figured out how to delete an speed dial# w/out deleting it from my add. book!
3.The ringtones are very unpopular..i mean there is no need for the tones to sound as it they came from petSmart(moo!,dog barkin..etc)
4.I recieve an OTa like ever 3 months=no fun!
5.If it drops it feels as if you've just gotten into an car wreck *its an horrible feeling beacuse u know its really all downhill* because the KICK will neva be the same!
6.If you're goin out it cant come with u it is too fragile for the dance floor! So you're out of a phone 4 the nite!
7.the sim card may not be ready for no reason at all, it may take an half an to be ready!
8.If u have bought almost every accessory for it in the world and sometime they are hard to find..and they may not work either,i.e. the burger king type headset(wraps underear with long mic) it pops! i have been through 5! also i feel its givin off some kind of radiation im havin earaches, my ears even pops when i switch ears or not even wearin it!..now that's no JOKE! Not to mention since its uncomfrontable i dont always keep it in my ear it starts burnin, so when someone calls they hear alot of scratchin and movin',that's me trynna get it in! it is so embrassing!
9.its not worth the money!I have put nearly $600 into my KICK that's with accessories only, not to mention the soul taken contract!
10.Last but not least..i just hate the phone all together! It is like a child that will never leave the house and demands for attention, i have the patience for the KICK but it has a mind of its own i will never purhase another sidekick...!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Cool gadget, but bad customer service.
Review: I've read numerous reviews about how people have had bad customer service experiences with T-Mobile and how they were cheated out of their money. I bought my sidekick thinking it wouldn't happen to me. Well it did. Beware of T-Mobile service. Once you sign that contract, they don't care about you. My Sidekick broke down, so I called customer service and they told me they would send me a replacement but it would take 1 week of shipping time and 2 weeks of waiting time because they were on backorder.

So I waited 3 weeks to get my replacement. When I called and asked for a credit for the amount of time that I was not able to use my phone, they only gave me $7! I tried to be pollite because I know what its like to be in customer service, but the representative just gave me a bad attitude. It was absolutely the worst customer service experience I've ever had.

Save yourself the headache and go with Sprint or AT&T.

As for the phone itself, its a cool idea, but the internet is really slow. I've tried using it to look up bus schedules and train schedules, but unless you have a lot of time and are able to wait for the information to load, you'll be really frustrated.

The Sidekick does score some points in being developer friendly, meaning that you can write your own programs in java for it. I also like the AOL messenger feature which is about the only thing I really use.

As a phone, its just plain embarassing to hold up such a big and bulky piece of equipment to talk into. I find myself using the earpiece cable rather than holding the phone up to my ear to use it. But using the earpiece is a hassle when you have an incoming call and you have to try and untangle the wires before you take the call.

In my opinion, dont buy this. You will be much better off spending the money on an ipod or blackberry or some other piece of cool gadgetry.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best phone ever
Review: i cant beleive that more companys dont have this phone I have hda this phone for 6 months and its the best phone I have ever had.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Very frustrating coverage and network availability
Review: While the Sidekick represents a good concept as an alternative to the expensive Blackberry, T-Mobile's GPRS (data) network truly sucks. Here in New York the network is down 75% of the time -- I'm not making this up -- making using the Sidekick a very frustrating experience. Just in the middle of surfing the web or IM'ing or sending an e-mail you are greeted with a "network not available" or "sign-in failed" message all too often. This is the worst wireless experience I've had since getting my first cell phone almost 10 years ago.


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