vB Easy Archive - READ THIS FIRST (Sidekick FAQ)

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READ THIS FIRST (Sidekick FAQ)
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Posted by: STi_Fanatic

Since there seems to be an influx of threads about the same thing that has been covered six million, four hundred twenty seven thousand, fourty two times, I felt that a general info thread might be of use to the Danger forum.

Since I am lazy, I will just put Sidekick in this thread, although most of these questions will be similar for the Hiptop device.

HOW DO I USE A SIDEKICK ON MY CURRENT PLAN?
This references T-Mobile since I know them the best and since most people who come to this board use them.

There are really 3 options for using an SK device on TMO.
1. Add it to a voice plan. This costs 20.00 USD a month and comes with unlimited e-mail, unlimited web browsing with EDGE if available, unlimited AIM, YIM and MSN messaging plus unlimited SMS. Minutes are pulled from your bucket.
2. Start a new line/standalone postpaid. This costs 29.99 USD a month and includes all of the above features, but no voice plan.
3. Prepaid. Pay 1 USD a day for data/SMS and .40 cents a minute for voice. You are deducted for the data even if you don't use it, so it comes to 31 USD a month.

MY FRIEND JUST SENT ME A PICTURE OF HIS DOG RIDING A SKATEBOARD, BUT I DIDN'T SEEM TO GET IT. WTF STi?
The SideKick does not support MMS (on T-Mobile, at least). Your friend will need to send the picture to your tmail address. HipTools has a great list of where to send an email if you have a picture to send.

I HAVE TWO PHONES AND WANT TO SWAP MY SIM AND USE THEM INTERCHANGABLY. DO I NEED TO TRADE PLANS EACH TIME?
Not necessarily. If you just want to use SMS (MMS is NOT included) on your other phone, you can keep the SK Data Plan. Any mobile web, AIM or MMS used will be charged accordingly as if you had no data plan (because you really don't, you only have the SideKick Data Plan...and you're not on a SideKick).

CAN I UNLOCK MY SIDEKICK AND USE IT ON ANOTHER NETWORK?
Yes, sort of. If you unlock your SK (assuming you can pry the code from your provider, some have stopped giving them for the SK devices) you can use a foreign SIM for VOICE and TEXT ONLY! Data WILL NOT work. That's because your SK syncs with Danger's servers constantly to provide a data connection to you. Without your normal network, these connections don't know wtf is up and your data is unavailable. If a hard reset occurs, you're basically hosed.

I FOUND A SIDEKICK ON THE _____. CAN I USE IT?
No, not if the previous user was intelligent. First of all, besides the pressing moral issues of using a device that you STOLE, the IMEI of the device is used each time it connects to the data service. So, the previous owner can blacklist that and make it unavailable to anyone who tries to use it. Hope you burn in hell for trying to use stolen goods!

BUT WHAT IF I BUY IT FROM A LEGIT SOURCE? MY FRIEND? EBAY? GOD?
Ah, well, that's different. Just make sure the previous owner connected the service provider and told them he/she sold their device. The service provider will nuke their account and setup a new one for you.

I WANT FREE RINGTONES/APPS. TELL ME HOW.
Unfortunately, there is currently NO WAY to get ringtones and apps onto your SK device withoout a developer key. You MUST buy them from the catalog.

OK, TELL ME HOW TO GET A DEVELOPER KEY.
Can you write Java? Are you, by some wild chance of fate, a DEVELOPER?! Then you can apply for one on Danger's website. Otherwise, you can't get one.

MY FRIEND HAS A DEV KEY. HOW DO I USE IT?
You don't. Each key is tied to the device ID and can only be used on that device.

That's all I have for now. Post in this thread for other questions similar to these.

-STi

Posted by: Brooklyn8

You shouldn't give people that much hope that they can unlock their sidekick for any network. Presently, it is pretty much impossible. I've looked everywhere.

Posted by: STi_Fanatic

I know T-Mobile doesn't unlock them anymore, but I wasn't sure about SunCom or other providers. Sounds like us SK users are SOL.

Posted by: Complete Game

Thanks This Answered All My Questions

Posted by: OwensStr8Clowni

Great list man,

Posted by: Brooklyn8

Yea I contacted Suncom, their customer service will not give out unlock codes, or even admit that they have the ability to unlock their phones.

Posted by: Ender1490

40 cents for prepaid is a little high, I think you mean 15 cents. But otherwise, great FAQ, should be stickied.

Posted by: Scott

Thanks for posting! Sticky has been made.

Posted by: STi_Fanatic

Alright, I don't know if this is a bug in Hofo or what...but I can't seem to edit the first post to correct my prepaid talk rate...I've noticed that in my threads that have later been stickied...anyone got an idea?

Posted by: Delicious19

How is the web browsing for the sidekick 3? What are the speeds like and and will I be able to veiw most websites. Do the sites look just like they do in IE?

Posted by: secrecyguy

Actually, I don't think you can blacklist a Sidekick. If you found it, you can actually use it after you do a hard reset, put in your SIM card in it, and let T-mobile know you want a Sidekick plan.

Posted by: STi_Fanatic

Quote:

Originally Posted by secrecyguy

Actually, I don't think you can blacklist a Sidekick. If you found it, you can actually use it after you do a hard reset, put in your SIM card in it, and let T-mobile know you want a Sidekick plan.

From what I know, this is not true. The IMEI is still tied to an SK acct in the Danger servers, so you have basically blacklisted it.

Posted by: Ender1490

I thought blacklisting IMEIs in the US was illegal?

Posted by: STi_Fanatic

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ender1490

I thought blacklisting IMEIs in the US was illegal?

Um...no?

Ten characters.

Posted by: clipzz

so its basically impossible to unlock the sidekick II?

Posted by: bparrott03

Quote:

Originally Posted by clipzz

so its basically impossible to unlock the sidekick II?

that would be correct. You have to atlest be a T-mobile customer for 90days [from what some people have said]

But i dont believe that. I have been a customer for over 2 years and they wont unlock mine [had my sk2 for a year and a half]

And dont buy a *unlocked* sidekick 2 on ebay because 9 times out of 10, they arent unlocked.

Posted by: christyxcore

I'm considering swapping my Pearl for a SK3, but have a few questions first.

1. Can I download applications on the SK3? Like on my Pearl, I have the GMail application, Google Maps, Google Talk, etc. Could I download these onto a SK3?

2. Can you change the wallpaper on the SK3?

3. Do you only have the sidekick email on it or can you also add email accounts like on the Blackberry?

I have about a week left for returning (30 days in California) and these factors would sell me.

Posted by: manchuia

Quote:

Originally Posted by christyxcore

I'm considering swapping my Pearl for a SK3, but have a few questions first.

1. Can I download applications on the SK3? Like on my Pearl, I have the GMail application, Google Maps, Google Talk, etc. Could I download these onto a SK3?

2. Can you change the wallpaper on the SK3?

3. Do you only have the sidekick email on it or can you also add email accounts like on the Blackberry?

I have about a week left for returning (30 days in California) and these factors would sell me.

This is better posted in it's own thread and not in the FAQ.

1. Basic Answer: No. SK platform is locked to preapproved Apps, so no you can't

2. Basic Answer: Yes. There are threads about this, use the wonderful search utility up in the right hand corner

3. Basic Answer: Yes. Again, search, or look at a users manual to show you how to do it.

Aside from that. Could you post the location on where to view the most up to date product catalog, might help people looking to get into the SK who want to know what apps are available.

Posted by: veks

can oem sk3 housings be replaced?

Posted by: kristaylur

this is a great FAQ post. I have a question similar to one you posted. Will the Sidekick work on a non sidekick data plan? If I have a BlackBerry data plan can I still use the data features of the sidekick when swapping sims from my Blackberry or Dash?

Posted by: diesel828

Since the FAQ is super old, does the MMS issue still stand? You can't receive or send MMS on the newest (Sidekick LX, SK3, SK Slide) phones?

Posted by: payroll

With the LX and the Slide you can receive MMS. I dont believe you can on the SK3.

Posted by: Cloud97

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristaylur

this is a great FAQ post. I have a question similar to one you posted. Will the Sidekick work on a non sidekick data plan? If I have a BlackBerry data plan can I still use the data features of the sidekick when swapping sims from my Blackberry or Dash?

i wanna know the answer to this too. will the sidekick work with the 5.99 proxy.

and yea this super old thread badly need to be updated.

Posted by: donniesd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud97

i wanna know the answer to this too. will the sidekick work with the 5.99 proxy.

It has been answered a million times. Search for your answers.

And no it wont. You have to have the SK data plan. Don`t be cheap. You cant add your own games, programs or ring tones. You have to buy everything.

Posted by: DezertRider

so not being able to download your own ringtons and gams and stuff still applies to the newer phones like the lx/slide? (considering this was started back in 2006). On my slide there is a music player, if i put in a bunch of songs i can just tag them as apply to ringtone or somthing similar?

its taking getting used to from the dash but i like it so far. hopefully its not good for a while then a complete piece of **** a month later like the dash was.

Posted by: manchuia

Quote:

Originally Posted by DezertRider

so not being able to download your own ringtons and gams and stuff still applies to the newer phones like the lx/slide? (considering this was started back in 2006). On my slide there is a music player, if i put in a bunch of songs i can just tag them as apply to ringtone or somthing similar?

its taking getting used to from the dash but i like it so far. hopefully its not good for a while then a complete piece of **** a month later like the dash was.

No you can not assign mp3s in the music player to ringtones. Those still have to purchased through the download store.

Posted by: nolageek

I kinda miss my dash. I've had my LX for about 3 months and gave my roommate my dash. Since we both have unlimited data now (I didn't when I was using the dash) 've beginning to wish I hadn't given it to him. He's got GPS running and all sorts of other stuff that I couldn't do without the data plan.. all the SK LX has going for it is the big keyboard (which I could't do without now.)

My pet peeves about the sidekick LX, that really disappointed me:

1. No Bluetooth. Yes, it says "Bluetooth 2.0" on the website, but it's a bold face lie. The only thing you can do with it is send other sidekicks your contact information. and mono headsets. You can't listen to music via bluetooth, you can't sync or copy media via bluetooth. Really, what's the point??

2. 100 message limit in the SMS mailbox. This means you can only have 100 message total throughout your inbox, saved, trash and drafts. This is completely retarded. You'd think that it would delete messages from your trash if you run out of space in your inbox but it doesn't. If you have 100 messages total, it starts spitting errors and you miss the new messages. I'm pretty active on dodgeball and twitter and I have to delete messages constantly. (I get about 300 a day.)

3. For a phone whose primary reason for being cool is it's instant messaging ability, if you try to message someone when you're not connected (say, in the subway or something) instead of behaving logically and queuing them up for transmitting when the signal returns, it just says "cannot send message. try again later". This, again, is completely retarded.

4. E-mail is a pain in the ***. Yes, you can add POP3 accounts to your mail client, but everything gets filtered through Danger's servers - which are slow as hell. I have my work e-mail in my phone, cause I thought it'd be cool to be able to reply to clients when I'm lunch... it takes HOURS (3 or more) for my mail to be delivered to my SideKick. I've been told a few work arounds that involve forward the account to my tmail account but it just all seems so stupid. I don't want that mail being mixed in with my tmail.

5. Yes, you can change the menu backgrounds, but you can't get rid of the GIANT MENU ICONS that pop up over the background. Again, annoying more than anything but still.

6. Applications. OMG. I don't mind T-Mo and Danger being greedy and all, but can the applications on the SideKick be anymore useless. There's no blog clients, there's no additional chat clients. I know several developers who have written fantastic apps for last.fm/music scrobbling, twitter clients, dodgeball clients, mail enhancements, ringtone enhancements, etc.. but Danger will not approve them. However, check your catalog and you'll see apps that let you track your menstruation cycle, check your astrology or calculate your biorhythm. Oh, you can also get the myspace app for $3 a month, recurring.

All and all, I love the sidekick since I SMS a lot, but other than that it could really stand to catch up to most of the other phones on the market. I *really* miss WM6. (I never thought I'd say that!)

Posted by: izzzy12k

Hmm.. Not being able to create custom ringtones for my sidekick... this is a majr blow for me... My wife just got one, if she keeps it, that's her choice. I don't see myself getting one now... how lame can they be.

Posted by: izzzy12k

oh great just found that google maps and opera wont install either... I'm really starting to hate this phone.

Posted by: izzzy12k

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolageek

1. No Bluetooth. Yes, it says "Bluetooth 2.0" on the website, but it's a bold face lie. The only thing you can do with it is send other sidekicks your contact information. and mono headsets. You can't listen to music via bluetooth, you can't sync or copy media via bluetooth. Really, what's the point??

I also found that you can't even send/receive addressbook contacts either.