T-Mobile Sidekick 2

July 21st, 2008 admin Posted in Reviews |

An older member of the Sidekick family, the Sidekick 2 is still able to offer the novelty of a "flip open" screen and above average utilities for the texting fiends.

Like many other phones, the Sidekick 2 features a camera on the backside of the phone, along with an adequate flash. Picture quality is not great, but it gets the job done. Unfortunately, the Sidekick does not allow users to send or receive picture messages (although it does allow users to email pictures).

Sound quality is average, but the loud speakerphone is useful for hands free driving. T-mobile provides Sidekick users with their own email address @tmail.com, and the phone's email utility allows for quick and easy access to this account. The Sidekick also allows users to access their AOL email accounts, but sync times are often longer. Instant messaging is easy with the AIM application which allows for multiple conversations.

The phone contains 32mb of RAM allowing for storage of pictures, emails, and ringtones. Internet browsing is relatively easy with the Sidekick's web browser but unfortunately it is not compatible with all websites. Load times are relatively fast if you are in a medium to high service area. For those addicted to texting, the phone's full QWERTY keyboard is a very nice feature which allows for quick messaging. The raised buttons make them easy to press for even those with larger hands.

For those unaccustomed to the Sidekick, the size and weight can be a major turnoff. The phone does not fit easily into a pocket and is often hard to carry. Also, unlike newer phones the Sidekick 2 lacks Bluetooth compatibility preventing users from utilizing the use of wireless headsets. Younger audiences may disapprove of the sidekick's lack of customization options. Virtually the only things the user can customize are the screensaver and ringtone.