The SidkeKick, the beloved texting deviced adored by teenagers for nearly a decade, is back and this time it’s armed with Android, the fastest mobile phone operating system in the land, according to recent studies.
This new incarnation of the Sidekick, dubbed the Sidekick 4G, is the fourth from T-Mobile after the network discontinued services for the device. Kudos to T-moblle for sticking with a plan that works: revive the phone that started the smartphone revolution and update its OS with a kick-ass one, Android.
Nothing major has changed in terms of form and function save this new Sidekick has a touchscreen with a 3.5-inch display. It also has the same overall shape, the same 5-row QWERTY keyboard and the display slides out with a “pop-tilt” hinge and an optical trackball has been put in place of the old physical trackball.
The Sidekick 4G, built by Samsung, is an attempt to make the iconic name competitive with today’s best smartphones. With a 1-GHz processor (a Cortex A8 Hummingbird) and Android 2.2 Froyo it looks like a winner.
“Android continues to be a strategic bet for T-Mobile, and we’re expanding the current lineup to offer a robust messaging experience on a popular platform — at speeds as fast as your home broadband,” said T-Mobile in a statement.
Another cool feature of the new Sidekick is its hotspot, which is great for up to five devices. It will also connect with T-Mobile’s4G network, where available.
