I know this isn’t about a new Sidekick, but I know there are a lot of people out there that have been following the rumored “Google phone” that runs on their Android platform for a long time. T-Mobile officially announced the “T-Mobile G1” today. It shares a lot of features with the Sidekick and actually looks a lot like a Sidekick from a distance. The software underneath is totally different, and we’ll soon see how well the Android OS fares. For more information on the specs and details, check out the coverage on TmoNews.

Tired of hearing about all your friends bragging about their 3G speeds? Well us Sidekick users won’t have to wait forever. We’ve heard from sources about the next Sidekick. We don’t have a release date yet, so start making your guesses, but we can almost guarantee you that it won’t be out this year. It’s Danger codename is “m3 Blade” and we hear that it will cut closer than ever before! For those that don’t remember, the Sidekick II was codenamed “m1” and the Sidekick 3 was “m2” so if you wanted to, you could call this the Sidekick 4 I guess. It’s also going to be 3G, which is no big surprise considering the enormous rollout of 3G coverage that T-Mobile has been doing. Other than that we’re speculating that it will have a better camera since we saw Sharp put out a 5MP camera awhile back. Last we heard there wasn’t GPS on it, but we’re hoping that will change. If you had your wishes, what do you want to see on the next Sidekick? (Other than YouTube support of course)

Just like last year we’ve uncovered some new domains registered by T-Mobile. Both SidekickMX.com and SidekickFX.com (as well as the .net, .org, etc) have been registered by T-Mobile. These domains were originally registered on February 2nd, 2008 but show that the information was updated on June 5th, 2008. Neither of the domains are actually pointed at a live website though. This could of course mean absolutely nothing. They could just have been other names that T-Mobile was considering for the Sidekick 2008/Gekko, or could they be new devices? We haven’t found any additional information to confirm one way or another yet, but thought we’d at least share the info and let anyone out there do a little detective work if they wanted.

Whois for sidekickmx.com
Whois for sidekickfx.com

Remember how we mentioned that SunCom Hiptop users would need to get a new Sidekick with the switch from Suncom to T-Mobile? Well we got some word from a T-Mobile spokesperson that (former) SunCom customers with a Hiptop device will be provided with a T-Mobile Sidekick 2008 free of charge. You should receive a letter from T-Mobile that provides your options for this upgrade, and you’ll need to either visit a nearby store (indicated in the letter) or call Customer Care at a number provided in the letter. In addition to the new Sidekick 2008, T-Mobile will also provide customers with the Intellisync software to help transfer your information from your old Hiptop to your new Sidekick via a computer. Needless to say, I think those of us without the Sidekick 2008 are a bit jealous!

One small detail with the T-Mobile/Suncom transition that is important to all you Hiptop owners is that you’ll need to get a new phone. The Suncom branded Hiptops will apparently not work on the T-Mobile network, so you will need to get a T-Mobile branded Sidekick if you want to continue to use data services. You’ll be able to make/receive calls and send/receive text messages, but no email or web browsing after November 8, 2008. The good news though is that you’ll get a free T-Mobile Sidekick to replace your phone. No word yet on whether or not you’ll get an upgraded phone, but we doubt T-Mobile will replace Sidekick IIs with another Sidekick II, so we’re betting they’ll be handing out Sidekick 2008s. You should receive info from T-Mobile on how to go about getting your new phone soon. Here’s what Suncom’s site says:

Q:What happens to my hiptop®?

A:If you have a hiptop, you have the opportunity to get a new T-Mobile Sidekick® for free. The Sidekick gives you virtually the same functionality as the hiptop, plus a host of exclusive features and content available only through the Sidekick. You should have received a special notification from T-Mobile with instructions on how to get your Sidekick.

So what does that mean? That means this is a great chance to do more than ever before. A few notes: You’ll still be able to make and receive calls, send and receive email, text and picture messages, instant message and browse the mobile Web on your hiptop until November 8, 2008. After that–starting on November 9, 2008–your hiptop will be able to make and receive calls and send and receive text and picture messages only. So upgrade to your new Sidekick before November 8.

T-Mobile’s takeover of Suncom is pretty much complete after about a year since the purchase was announced. They’ve announced that it is now “T-Mobile Service” in the areas that Suncom formerly provided cell service for. These areas include North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They’ve also started rebranding the Suncom stores as T-Mobile stores, so you should see signs switching on the brick and mortar stores if you’re in one of these areas. Here’s the official press release from T-Mobile:

T-Mobile USA Launches Service in the Carolinas and Puerto Rico
And in Additional Former SunCom Markets

BELLEVUE, Wash.—Sept. 8, 2008—T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced it has launched the T-Mobile brand and service in former SunCom markets throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Today, millions of consumers now have a new and powerful choice in national wireless communications – and that choice is T-Mobile®,” said Sue Nokes, chief customer and operations officer, T-Mobile USA. “Our commitment to customers, existing and new, is that you will find a happy home with
T-Mobile. Our customer service is top-ranked. We’ve invested millions to build out local networks. And we have a proven track record of bringing dynamic new offerings to market that make it easy and convenient to keep important people close — no matter how near or far they are.”

These new T-Mobile customers (former SunCom customers) now can receive the benefits of T-Mobile’s nationwide network, improved regional coverage, top-quality customer service, and breakthrough communications products and services. This completes the transition of SunCom Wireless to T-Mobile. The acquisition, for an aggregate of approximately $2.4 billion in cash and assumed debt, was announced in September 2007 and completed in February 2008.

With the changeover to T-Mobile, customers can have access to rate plans comparable or greater in value to the ones they enjoyed with SunCom. The vast majority of customers also can enjoy the new benefits of T-Mobile service while keeping their current mobile phone and number, making the transition to T-Mobile easy and hassle-free.

Today, former SunCom retail locations have been re-launched as T-Mobile stores, allowing customers to shop close to home and at familiar locations that now feature a new selection of products and services from T-Mobile. Former SunCom customers will be getting detailed information on their transition to
T-Mobile later this month. Customers can also visit https://www.lobuenoseponemejor.com/ in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and www.verygoodday.info in the U.S. to learn more about the transition and find answers to a variety of commonly asked questions.

T-Mobile will continue to deliver innovative products and services that offer customers better ways to communicate with those most important to them. This includes services such as Unlimited HotSpot Calling and T-Mobile @Home® that provide great call quality and unlimited nationwide calling from home via Wi-Fi for a low, flat rate.* It also includes access to T-Mobile’s myFaves® service offering unlimited nationwide calling to five people.** T-Mobile offers a wide variety of exclusive handsets such as the T-Mobile Sidekick®, T-Mobile Shadow™, and T-Mobile Dash™, as well as in-demand phones such as MOTOROKR E8, Nokia 5610 XpressMusic, Samsung Katalyst and Sony Ericsson TM506, plus a wide variety of BlackBerry® devices.

With the transition, new T-Mobile customers now have access to T-Mobile’s coast-to-coast national network as well as regional coverage, which is greatly enhanced from SunCom’s former network. Since the acquisition, T-Mobile has invested more than $100 million in strengthening the network in the Carolinas and Puerto Rico to give customers a stronger signal in a wider area, as one example of the enhanced regional coverage. The transition also increases T-Mobile’s national network coverage so that the company now serves 99 of the top 100 markets nationally.

T-Mobile operates an all-digital network based exclusively on GSM technology, which is the most widely used digital standard worldwide. T-Mobile customers benefit from this global technology platform by having the choice to use their same phone and same phone number when traveling across the country and internationally. Consistent with its stick together® mission, T-Mobile provides customers with voice coverage in more than 220 countries worldwide, including through T-Mobile’s roaming partners.
T-Mobile HotSpot subscribers also can enjoy Wi-Fi wireless broadband service at more than 45,000 total locations, across 25 countries, throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

*Unlimited HotSpot Calling and T-Mobile @Home require capable devices and qualifying plans. Calls must originate on Wi-Fi network.

**MyFaves allows unlimited nationwide calling to five U.S. numbers; some exclusions apply.

T-Mobile is putting on a live concert from Nelly streamed straight to MySpace. To check it out, go to https://www.myspace.com/sidekick on Sept 4th at 9:30pm EST (6:30pm PST)

We’re all about the community that’s formed around the Sidekick over the years. It’s amazing at the number of groups that the Sidekick has given rise to. Whether it’s chatting on forums (PBD forums or Hiptop3.com forums), posting on a community blog (Hiptop Nation or PBD Blogs), sharing Sidekick Themes (sk08, skLX, skSlide, or sk3), doing the annual Halloween HiptopHunt, or just saying hi to someone with a Sidekick on the bus.

Now we have one more site that strengthens this community, SidekickProfiles.com. It’s brand spanking new, but it looks like it has a lot of promise. It’s basically like MySpace, but for Sidekick users. The layout is specifically designed for the Sidekick browser and loads fast and perfectly every time. It has a lot of the same basic features of MySpace and should be a great way to connect with other Sidekick users. You can setup your own profile with pictures and customized layouts. You can also add friends, leave comments, message people, etc. I recommend you check it out! I did