The Danger servers shutdown today. It’s hard to put into words the impact that Danger and the Hiptop had on the entire wireless industry, as well as me personally. I know that it also played a personal role in a large number of people’s lives.

For a trip down memory lane you can check out the Sidekick timeline and Geekwire has a recap of the history of the Sidekick.

Some other blasts from the past for Sidekick die-hards:
– The old blue camera that plugged into the headphone port that only did 120×90 pixels?
– The excitement of the silver camera that let you take 320×240 pictures!
– The Hiptop Halloween Hunts
– Danger’s Official Timeline (circa 2007)
– Remember 10 Pin Bowling? Blockade? Cognet? HipPaint? the hacked Google Maps application?
– How about all the code names? Shuriken, Gekko, Zante, m1, m2, Aspen, Blade
– The rise and fall (thanks to Popular Science) of the Developer keys.
– hiptopinfo.com, hiptop.com, hiptop.bedope.com, skdr.net, skholla.com, The Danger Zone, hiptop411.com, hipalbum.com, and more…
– Discovering the hidden feature of custom themes. Thanks Jurai!
– T-Mobile’s Sidekick/Grammy tour and all the release parties
– The countless FCC leaks
– The Snoop Dogg commercial where he was asking for help with his laundry
– Who remembers Johnny Chase?

And last but not least.. where’s my cat remote?

If you’ve got a story or a memory to share about the Sidekick, please leave it in the comments. We’d love to hear how it touched other people too.

This evening T-Mobile announced their relaunch of the Sidekick brand with the Sidekick 4G, an Android powered device produced by Samsung.

This Sidekick will be HSPA+ 21 (Able to deliver theoretical speeds of up to 21mbps.) and will be the first to feature a Touch Screen. In addition this Sidekick will feature a 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU, and a VGA front facing camera for video calls through Qik. No mention of the rear cameras specifications however. It will also be running Android 2.2 and features a five row keyboard just as previous devices have.

It’s expected to ship later this spring in 2 colors. Matte Black and Pearl Magenta. No pricing information is available, or if T-Mobile will extend discounts to previous Sidekick Customers.

Full press release below.

Source TMoNews
(more…)

Here’s a copy of the letter going out to the current Sidekick users. Sidekick users will get 50% off select Samsung phone from T-Mobile as long as they sign a new 2 year contract. They also point out that the new Sidekick is coming in the Spring.

Danger Developers are receiving an email from Microsoft/Danger informing them that the sales of “one-time donload content” will be discontinued as of March 2nd. Yes, as in tomorrow. So if there was ever a theme, ringtone, or app you wanted to purchase from the Sidekick catalog, you better grab it today.

Free stuff and subscription based apps will remain in the catalog. After tomorrow it sounds like the only way to get ringtones or themes will be via the free sites: Sidekick-Themes and Skringers.

It’s official, T-Mobile issued a press release regarding the end of the Danger Sidekick service as we know it. The servers will go down on May 31st.

Statement: Danger Service for T-Mobile Sidekick

Bellevue, Wash. — Feb. 28, 2011 PST

After May 31, 2011, the Danger Service (a subsidiary of Microsoft) used by T-Mobile Sidekick customers for data services will no longer be available on Sidekick devices.

T-Mobile will provide offers for our Sidekick customers before May 31, 2011, to help make an easy transition from their existing Sidekick device to a new device. We will have more information to share about these offers with our customers in the weeks ahead.

To ensure the best possible transition for our loyal Sidekick customers, an enhanced Web tool is available on myT-Mobile.com to easily export their personal data, including contacts, photos, calendar, notes, to-do lists, and bookmarks, from the Danger service to a new device, computer, or a designated e-mail account. An application is also available in the Sidekick Catalog to make it easy to export personal data to the Sidekick’s memory card. Many T-Mobile stores can transfer data from that card to a new T-Mobile device if the customer brings in the memory card and Sidekick.

I can’t help but be a little sad. We all knew this day was coming, but now we know when. Enjoy the last few months, and here’s hoping the Sidekick 4G can live up to the expectations that the previous Sidekicks set.

TechFlash is reporting that Microsoft and T-Mobile are planning to announce a transition away from the Danger servers any day now.

It’s no secret that T-Mobile is looking to relaunch the Sidekick device on the Android platform, but what this relaunch means to current Sidekick users has as of yet been unknown. The Danger servers, now owned by Microsoft, cost resources and money to run. Whether or not T-Mobile and Microsoft are making enough money on Sidekick users to warrant continuing to run these servers is unknown. Regardless, once these servers are shutdown, it means the end of our good friend, Danger.

No official word yet, but when we hear it we’ll let you know.

source image via Mithun RS

*brushing off the dust to bring you a new post*
Just got an email from someone in the developer program. They logged in recently and saw the above message.

On September 21, 2010 we will stop accepting new game and application submissions.

We would like to thank all of the developers that have created content for Danger-powered devices along with the supportive members of the developer community. The Danger platform and end-user experience are better because of your amazing contributions over the years.

If you have any further questions please contact your Danger representative.

Sounds like the Danger Developer Zone is shutting down soon, and assumedly the Download Catalog won’t be getting many new additions after September 21st. It’s incredibly sad to to see the first OVer-The-Air App Store fade away.

It’s been a good run Danger Sidekick, but T-Mobile says you’re done.

“As T-Mobile looks to further innovate and raise the bar for the next generation of the T-Mobile Sidekick, as of July 2, the Sidekick LX and Sidekick 2008 will no longer be available through T-Mobile, including retail stores, care, telesales and online.”

This doesn’t mean that the Sidekick service will be stopped on July 2nd. T-Mobile hasn’t said anything about the longevity of that. This just means you’ll have to buy a Sidekick elsewhere. But there are hints that the Sidekick line may carry on (at least in name). Everyone’s chattering about this Sidekick Twist, which may be what T-Mobile has up their sleeve.

Oh, and for those that haven’t been following the news elsewhere, the Kin is done for as well.

via cnet

Looks like T-Mobile is no longer selling the Sidekick on their site. The Sidekick LX 2009 was the last device on there and now there’s no sign of it. If you need one, looks like there’s only one place to go.

UPDATE: As many have pointed out, the Sidekick LX 2009 Carbon is back up on T-Mobile for $99. Was the disappearance just another mistake? Stop toying with our emotions T-Mobile!

T-Mobile UK Sidekick users are receiving letters that inform them the Sidekick service will be shut off on April 15th. Once this happens you’ll still be able to make calls, send text messages, but anything related to the data service will no longer work. Make sure you back up all your personal info before that day so you don’t risk losing it!

via PoweredByDanger