Should I get a new Sidekick 2008 for my new plan?

I am considering a new family plan and don't much care for long term contracts - so T-Mobile's Even More Plus is quite appealing.

The downside, of course, is shopping for phones at full price. I'm not eager to drop $200 on phones for my children.

NewEgg is offering new Sidekick 2008 phones for $50. It seems quite capable hardware, but from this forum and others I'm getting hints that at least some of the functionality requires access to a 'Sidekick Server'. In order to decide whether or not to get Sidekicks, I need to know if I can get access to a Sidekick server, how much it costs, and what I can't do if I can't get said access.

Anyone have documentation along that line?

Thanks.

Sadly, I don't think they would even add the Sidekick feature any longer. You may get it with begging them but im not sure. The plan is now $30 for data but idk if they would budge on giving the old $20 plan or not.

Thanks. I've checked with T-Mobile, and the 'Sidekick Plan' is not available. I can get a $20/200 MB/Month plan or $30 unlimited (or no Web at all). What I'm trying to figure out is what will the Sidekick not do with one of the current web plans and (apart from the obvious) with no web plan at all. Will it be, for example, impossible to get a new game? Will I have trouble transferring or saving contact data? That sort of thing.

Yup exactly. You won't be able to create a tmail.com account because they won't add the required components to the account. So syncing stuff is a no go. But you may be able to access the browser. Hopefully Sidekick 2008 supports pics to # in which I do think it does. Getting a new game may be impossible. But you need the necessary sidekick activation. When you receive the phone a special activation is required before you even get into the main menu but you can bypass that.

Call them & tell them your willing to add the $30 plan but I really need it for a Sidekick because I won't be able to use some features w/o it.

Sidekicks require data plans. If you don't have a data plan, you lose all contacts on reboot. I'm not even sure if they even have the Sidekick servers still up.

Your best bet might be an old BlackBerry. They're cheap. An 8320 might cost around $50-$75 these days in mint condition, even less for an 8700. They also don't require data plans to work.

Sidekick servers are still active. But they aren't letting anyone new on them.

Thanks all. I think the simple answer is 'no' - the Sidekick really expects something I won't have.

I like the Blackberry idea if it were for me, but I think my children will really want a camera. I'm thinking of an HTC DASH:
http://www.gsmmonster.com/htcdash-1.aspx

A little more money, but at least apparently capable of using WiFi where it exists, dodging the data plan. Anyone have first-hand knowledge?

Pat

AHHH NO! Dont get that phone lol i've owned it. Something like the BB 9300, 9700, 9780 should do or even the Dash 3G.

I have a motorola cliq I don't need. I just bought a Vibrant. $80 bucks / OBO, email me if your interested in more details.

I guess that would do. But I don't like that phone either lol.

It's no super amazing powerhouse, but it runs great and has Android 2.1. lol matrix

I have a motorola cliq I don't need. I just bought a Vibrant. $80 bucks / OBO, email me if your interested in more details.

Looks like a decent device, but I'm not sure Android can be used with Pay As You Go. Do you know?

Another nice little android phone is the LG Optimus T.  I picked one up for my son for $145 on eBay. Don't know if that will be to expensive for you or not, but I might be an option to look at.

You can activate it with WIFI.

Yes u can still use it with wifi and activate it. Calls sms and mms will still work without wifi.

You can activate it with WIFI.

I just did a factory reset.  Since I didn't put in the SIM it came up and asked to use the WiFi to log in and set up your Google account via the WiFi. So yes I am assuming that you do not need a data connection to activate (set up your google account) with this phone.

It is a nice little phone, although it is a little laggy, but for my son who is ruff on phones I think it will do just fine.  I am not going to spend $300-$400 on another android phone for him to abuse it or lose it.

Definately did me well. Im just an app maniac and down lots needed the Vibrant, and this new phone kicks!

Thanks, everyone. I understand a lot more than I did a few days ago.

Cubsman, I'm considering the Cliq - I like the hardware and Android, but MOTOBLUR looks a nightmare. Must I send personal data to Motorola if I get the cliq? I don't use social networks, so there's no integration advantage, and I'd much prefer to do local backups via USB or in the worst case to Google; I've no interest in letting yet another party in on my data.

For that matter, I have to be certain that I can set the device up so it never transmits anything without my authorization, or I could end up paying $1.50 for my phone to learn once again that I don't use Twitter.

I will check into this situation.