It’s not like all of us didn’t see this one coming, but it is nice to finally have an official announcement as well as the ability to actually purchase the Sidekick 2008 (Gekko). It’s been a long wait, fraught with name changes, but it looks like it was worth it for those waiting to upgrade. We’ve got a lot more info for you guys that will be posted shortly, but in the meantime, here’s the official word from T-Mobile on features and specs:

The T-Mobile Sidekick will be available July 30 at select T-Mobile retail stores and online at www.sidekick.com for $149.99 with a two-year service agreement. Pricing for the shells is $14.99 for two for $9.99 each.

Additional T-Mobile Sidekick Features Include:
· Easily personalized exterior that provides customers the ability to create “shells” on their own terms.
· Record, play and share videos: record videos using the camera; receive video attachments from e-mail, picture messaging, or side load videos to the microSD card; play video using the built-in media player; share videos via e-mail, Bluetooth or picture messaging
· T-Mobile myFaves-enabled
· Horizontal swivel screen and full QWERTY keyboard (manufactured by Sharp)
· WQVGA screen with high-definition LCD technology
· Personalized Web surfing: PC-like, full-size layout or standard Sidekick screen-size layout to scroll and read a page; use Mini Page to zoom out on an overview of an entire Web page; save images from Web pages to the microSD card
· Customized IM experience: create and join group chats, set custom status messages, search for friends in a buddy list and see who is logged into IM to immediately start a conversation
· Easy downloads: install and use downloads without the need to restart the device; set a theme as the device’s default instantly
· Store more information: Up to 25 ringtones, add up to five slides to multimedia messages, and up to 60-second voice messages
· Quick Find to search across all applications
· Dimensions: 4.7” x 2.3” x 0.7”, 5.3 oz.
· 2.6-inch display, 400×240 pixels
· 2.0 megapixel camera
· Quad-band world phone 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
· GSM,GPRS,EDGE
· 512mb microSD memory card
· 1030mAh Lion battery
· Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP supports stereo Bluetooth and Bluetooth file transfer to other Bluetooth devices including Bluetooth photo printers.

UPDATE: The official press release went out

T-MOBILE TAKES CUSTOMIZATION TO A NEW LEVEL WITH THE LATEST T-MOBILE SIDEKICK

The new T-Mobile® Sidekick® lets customers change the look of their device as often as they change their clothes

BELLEVUE, Wash. – July 30, 2008 – A picture from high school graduation, a favorite sports team logo or a vibrant splash of the hottest fall color – whatever you want to express, you can design it on the new T-Mobile® Sidekick®. Available today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. has added the latest edition to the Sidekick family providing customers with the opportunity to create shells for their Sidekick with the images, colors or designs they choose.

The new Sidekick will ship with two shells: black and metallic green. A variety of pre-designed shell patterns and colors also are readily available for customers to purchase at T-Mobile retail stores or online. Of course, for true individualization, customers can design a completely unique shell unlike any other using a dedicated online Sidekick site via SkinIt at www.sidekickshells.com. Doing so is as simple as uploading a personal photo or graphic design, or selecting your own text, shapes, icons or logos. The final design is custom-printed onto the shell, then shipped. Once the design is complete, customers can share their work of art in a public gallery that will be hosted on www.sidekick.com.

“There is perhaps nothing more important than someone’s individual style and personality. The new

T-Mobile Sidekick, with its customizable shells, lets our customers easily express that unique style directly on their phone,” says Sajal Sahay, director, product marketing, T-Mobile USA. “Providing our customers with options to stand out from the crowd and show a true expression of themselves is what makes this Sidekick such an intriguing, fun device.”

In addition to enhanced personalization, the T-Mobile Sidekick is sporting a slightly smaller, thinner and lighter design than previous Sidekicks. It also comes fully loaded with the latest Sidekick features including video capture and playback ability, so customers can record and watch spontaneous and memorable moments, whether at a football game or a music concert.

The new Sidekick also features an integrated Spanish user interface – the first for a Sidekick device. Other features include first-rate messaging with IM, text and e-mail, as well as stereo Bluetooth® for easy photo and file transfers and a 2.0 megapixel camera. The Sidekick also is equipped with customizable Web surfing and more internal memory for storage of ringtones and multimedia messages.

T-Mobile Sidekick Features Include:
· Exterior shells that can be personalized
· Capability to record, play and share videos: record videos using the camera; receive video attachments from e-mail, picture messaging, or side load videos to the microSD card; play video using the built-in media player; share videos via e-mail, Bluetooth or picture messaging
· Horizontal swivel screen and full QWERTY keyboard (manufactured by Sharp)
· WQVGA screen with high-definition LCD technology
· Enhanced Web surfing: PC-like, full-size layout or standard Sidekick screen-size layout to scroll and read a page; use Mini Page to zoom out on an overview of an entire Web page; save images from Web pages to the microSD card
· Customizable IM experience: create and join group chats, set custom status messages, search for friends in a buddy list and see who is logged into IM to immediately start a conversation
· Easy download capability: install and use downloads without the need to restart the device; set a theme as the device’s default instantly
· Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP supports stereo Bluetooth and Bluetooth file transfer to other Bluetooth devices including Bluetooth photo printers
· 2.0 megapixel camera
· Included 512MB microSD memory card
· More storage: Up to 25 ringtones, add up to five slides to multimedia messages, and up to 60-second voice messages
· Quick Find to search across all applications
· T-Mobile myFaves® enabled
· Dimensions: 4.7” x 2.3” x 0.7”, 5.3 oz.
· 2.6-inch display, 400×240 pixels
· Quad-band world phone 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; GSM,GPRS,EDGE
· 1030mAh Lion battery

The new T-Mobile Sidekick is available today at select T-Mobile retail stores and online at www.t-mobile.com. Please visit www.sidekick.com for T-Mobile Sidekick news and updates.

What did you do tonight? Sat at home, watched some TV, browsed the web, or something pretty ordinary right? Well some lucky people were partying it up in New York at the Sidekick 2008 release party listening to the tunes spun by Treasure Fingers and Sammy Bananas! Unfortunately we couldn’t make it to the party either this time. (We’re totally booking our flights the day we get the invite next time!) Word has it that attendees could create their own Sidekick 2008 shells and pick them up at the party. We’re still waiting on pictures because we’re sure there were a lot of famous faces there. If the Grammy Tour was any indication, T-Mobile knows how to throw a party, and this was one was probably just as much fun.

UPDATE: Looks like the DJs got their very own Sidekick 2008s according to Treasure Fingers’ Twitter

If you hadn’t heard, it’s finally time for the Sidekick LX Video OTA to roll out to everyone. Over the last week or two the update has been slowly rolling out. The pioneer people that got the users should also receive a new update that brings them up to the latest version. So yes, it’s finally here guys. It’s rolling out randomly, not based on location at all. Good luck trying to guess when you’ll get the OTA. Just sit tight and we’ll all be enjoying the new video and browser goodness before too long.

Ever since Microsoft bought Danger we’ve been waiting for the announcement of a mobile device from Microsoft. There have been rumors left and right about a ZunePhone, which would compete directly with Apple’s highly successful iPhone. Add another rumor to the mill, this time it’s from an anonymous source (via jkOnTheRun) that says there was a meeting in Redmond (Microsoft’s headquarters) to help flesh out the details on a Zune phone. According to this source, the Zune phone will be a specialized version of Windows Mobile 7 and will utilize the Windows Live Services. It will also feature a multi-touch touch screen.

If all of this is true, then this could spell bad news for Danger. Basically it’s everything the Sidekick is not. No awesome operating system, no excellent back-end service, and a touch screen instead of a keyboard. We hope that these new rumors about the “ZunePhone” are false, or at least that this isn’t the only phone that Microsoft is thinking about.

image via

It seems to happen with almost every device. A magazine puts out a short article and includes a new not yet released Sidekick. This time it’s the Sidekick 2008/Gekko in Nylon magazine. The article says: “$149 with two year contract, t-mobile sidekick”. The full spread and a close-up on the text:

via PBD forums (thanks to everyone who sent this in)

Our friends over at TmoNews are reporting that T-Mobile will be slashing prices on their Motorola phones (including the Sidekick Slide) on July 30th. This is only for new individual or family plans with a 2 year contract, so all you current Sidekick owners are probably out of luck and are better off going the eBay route. The full list of eligible phones:
* Motorola Sidekick Slide
* Motorola Rokr e8
* Motorola Razr V3
* Motorola Razr2 V8
* Motorola W490

via TmoNews

The Sidekick 2008 has been a source of rumor upon rumor, but they still aren’t available. Well, other than craigslist and now eBay. A reader let us know that there is now an auction for a Sidekick 2008 on eBay. Yes, that’s right, you can buy a ton of money for an unreleased device and get it early it seems. So far the bidding is up to $295, with a Buy-It-Now price of a dollar short of a grand. It’s actually getting some bids, so we’ll see what some lucky person scores an unreleased device for. The auction text explains that this is a Sidekick 2008 with 4 different shells, and that “You will never see a box like this again on limited edition where made”. (We think he means that it’s a limited edition Sidekick 2008 or something.) Some more pictures from the auction below:

UPDATE: We’re up to $400 with only 17hours to go!

UPDATE 2: Looks like someone dropped the $999 with the Buy-It-Now option. ouch

What if a PSP got together with a Sidekick? Well, design student Samuel Lau thinks they’d go together perfectly. He’s come up with a design for a PSP with a screen similar to the Sidekick Slide, and a keyboard hidden underneath.

Some words from the designer, Samuel:
-Hope to have 50,000 views and 1000 comments.
-Then i will send this video directly to Sony for consideration.
-Once i reach the target, i will make another official proposal video to Sony.
-I am also raising fund for my education which cost about C$50,000. Hope if Sony like my idea and uses it, they pay half of my education fee.
-Hope i can see the real thing before Christmas 2009 (Fingers cross)!
-So be fast, spread the words!
-Last of all: YOU can make it happen!!!

Here’s his video for Sony to take a look at:

via yanko

Some photos of Sidekick 2008 “dummy phones” have been posted over in the Tmonews forums. Dummy phones are just the body of the phone. They are non-working devices generally used just for show at T-Mobile stores. There are some good comparison pictures of these dummy phones with other dummy sidekicks.

[Show as slideshow]

Before you get all excited, chances are this is just someone with Photoshop that got told “Hey, I need a phone that looks like it has GPS on it” by their boss, so they whipped something up. But we can’t help wonder why the model in the photo accompanying this article is holding the Sidekick 3 so oddly. Then again she is in a mall, and why would you need GPS (let alone being to get a signal) when you’re looking for a new pair of shoes? Regardless, there have been bits and pieces about GPS getting incorporated into a future Sidekick in some way for awhile. Remember that old job posting? From a technical standpoint it would probably be possible to interface a Sidekick with a Bluetooth GPS as it stands now, it would just be a matter of getting a mapping solution on the Sidekick that’s powerful enough. Maybe with Apple’s new iPhone 3G, Danger Microsoft will have some motivation to upgrade some of the hardware capabilities of the Sidekick to keep up with the location-aware mobile computing that is bound to happen in the very near future.