The Sidekick features AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), e-mail, a personal-information manager (PIM), a Web browser and an optional camera.

Most consumers in the U.S. probably don't know the "T-Mobile" brand, but they soon will. The T-Mobile brand made its debut last month in California and Nevada. Deutsche Telekom, which owns T-Mobile, will transition its current VoiceStream Wireless name to T-Mobile in the coming months throughout the U.S.

A price isn't available for the T-Mobile Sidekick as of yet, but Danger has said it expects the device to sell for around $200. Of course, you'll need to add the standard usage charges that any wireless carrier would bill on a monthly basis.

The availability of the device and platform has been delayed a few times. Danger originally said the platform would be available for sale by wireless carriers in the second quarter of this year. Then it pushed back the release date to a general "summer" release. When InstantMessagingPlanet looked at the Hiptop in July, a Danger representative said the device would be out by mid-August. At the time, though, he said that timeframe could swing 30 days either way, given carrier considerations.

Coming this Fall: Danger's Hiptop will be sold as the T-Mobile Sidekick. It will include a cell phone, wireless Web browsing, AOL IM and PIM capabilities in a cool-looking package.

The press release out from Danger today only said that the Sidekick-branded Hiptop device would hit the streets in the fall. A special Web page at the T-Mobile site didn't give any availability information. One of Danger's investors is the venture arm of Deutsche Telekom, which owns T-Mobile. Danger has deals in place with one carrier each in Canada and the U.K., Fortune magazine reported.

In connection with the T-Mobile announcement, Danger also said it is in discussions with Orange S.A. to bring the Hiptop wireless solution to Europe in 2003.

The Hiptop is actually a complete platform that includes the device design, a platform for the development of third-party applications, and a back-end software framework that supports the delivery of data services. The back-end is actually run application-service provider (ASP)-style. As with the T-Mobile deal, wireless carriers can sell the Hiptop device with any kind of branding they desire. The carriers will retail the device through their normal channels, including branded stores and nationwide consumer electronics chains.

Danger said it is now working with several technology providers, including:

• Intel, which is working with Danger to integrate its GSM/GPRS radio technology into the Hiptop Device Design
• Beatnik Inc. has provided its audio engine that includes a twelve-voice MIDI synthesizer
• Kyocera Corp has provided Danger with digital camera technology
• TTPCom is providing its GSM/GPRS protocol stack for the Hiptop Device Design.

Third-party developers are already creating applications and content for the Hiptop platform:

• UIEvolution has developed game applications and UI engine client software
• Upoc plans to offer its entertainment and community-building content
• nGame, a mobile Java entertainment content publisher and technology provider, plans to offer relevant content and applications
• ActiveBuddy plans to offer an interactive agent, or "bot," powered by ActiveBuddy's BuddyScript technology that delivers content, entertainment, and services via IM applications
• Pumatech plans to offer software that synchronizes personal information between Hiptop-enabled devices and the user's desktop computer.

The enterprise market isn't being left out of the mix, either. Danger said it is teaming with SEVEN Networks to provide mobile professionals with secure, real-time access to enterprise applications and data like Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, IMAP/POP e-mail, and documents. Corporate pros will be able to use Danger's Hiptop Wireless Solution and System SEVEN, a mobile-data services platform that's integrated into global operator networks.

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