There's an onscreen dialpad that you can access using the track ball (actually a bit time-consuming, so it might be easier to just use the keyboard) and you can also scroll through your address book and select and call contacts. The good news, however, is you can now dial numbers without having to use the keyboard. We did find that the top row of number buttons were pretty close to the edge of the bottom of the screen, so there were occasions our thumbs bumped against it. There's plenty of spacing between the keys, and we were able to easily compose messages. The keyboard itself is similar to the one found on the Sidekick LX. With the exception of the Sidekick Slide, the T-Mobile Sidekick has a swivel-screen design where if you nudge the upper-right corner or the lower-left corner of the screen, the display will rotate a full 180 degrees and expose the full QWERTY keyboard. The camera lens is located on the back of the phone minus a flash or self-portrait mirror and finally, there's a microSD expansion slot, but you have to remove the back cover to access it. As we've noted in our other Sidekick reviews, we found these controls a bit hard to use since they're pretty tiny in size and set flush with the phone's surface. The volume rocker and the power button are located on the bottom. On top of the unit, there are two function buttons that perform different tasks depending on which application you are using, as well as a mini USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sadly, I had not received my custom shell at press time. The whole process was easy and pretty fun. I had the opportunity to design my own shell, and much to the dismay of my T-Mobile contact, a University of Oregon alum, I placed a USC Trojan logo on mine. To pick or create your own shell, simply visit From there, you can choose from a selection of predesigned shells or you can start with a blank slate (you have a choice of black, white, or pink as a base color) and upload your own graphics or images to add to the back. All Sidekicks will ship with an extra green shell in the box. Unlike the T-Mobile Sidekick iD, which only allowed you to change the color of the outer edges, you can swap out the entire "shell" with different color plates as well as add your own custom design or image. Of course, the big design news is the level of customization. It feels comfortable in the hand, with a nice solid construction. It measures 4.7 inches wide by 2.3 inches high by 0.7 inch deep and weighs 5.3 ounces. Of all the current Sidekick models, the T-Mobile Sidekick most closely resembles the Sidekick LX it is just a smaller and lighter version. The T-Mobile Sidekick is available starting today in select stores and online for $149.99 with a two-year contract after rebates and discounts. For these reasons, we think the Sidekick will be a hit with its target audience of young T-Mobile customers looking for an all-in-one communication device. Beyond looks, the Sidekick also ships with all the new features that were introduced with the Sidekick LX software update, including stereo Bluetooth support and video recording and playback, while keeping its strong messaging capabilities. Shells cost $14.99 for two or $9.99 each. ![]() While we saw some of this in the T-Mobile Sidekick iD, where you could swap out color bumpers, the Sidekick lets you not only change the color but also allows you to add your own graphics, images, and designs to the outer shell, making it completely unique and your own. The big highlight is the new level of personalization.
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