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Danger has updated its popular Sidekick hybrid cell phone and personal digital assistant with practical and aesthetic improvements designed to keep it competitive with cell phones that are also fashion items.

Like the previous model, the new Sidekick II will be available through the cell phone company T-Mobile. It will also be a little on the expensive side, priced at $299. Danger claims it will be available in the fall; it has not yet been added to the T-Mobile Web site.

New Features

The new Sidekick has a number of improvements, including a brighter screen, a built-in VGA camera with flash (the previous model has a lower-resolution camera that plugs into the headphone socket), and a selection of new software. At 5.1 by 2.6 by 0.9 inches, it is also about 25 percent thinner than the older model.

Danger representatives say the Sidekick II is easier to use, with its larger keyboard with bigger keys and a redesigned directional pad. Examination of a preproduction model does seem to back up this claim, although the keyboard is still too time-consuming to use for anything but short e-mail messages and notes. The new model also includes two shoulder buttons on the top of the case, which can be used as shutter buttons.

Also included on the new Sidekick is a Yahoo Instant Messenger client, to go with the America Online IM client that has been available on previous models. Danger also provides a Web browser, an e-mail client, and other programs for taking notes and sorting addresses, as well as a few games.

Danger also claims the Sidekick II has an improved radio that should mean fewer dropped calls; the original Sidekick was notorious for losing the connection with the cell phone network in areas with low signal strength. This is a tri-band radio, which allows for more international roaming (the previous model was dual-band only and could not be used in many countries).

Still in the Works

Some significant features common to other combo handhelds are still missing from the new device. Notably, the Sidekick II lacks Bluetooth support, and it does not have software to sync with a desktop personal information manager such as Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes.

The lack of Bluetooth means that you can't use the Sidekick II with Bluetooth headsets (although you can plug in a wired headset) or use it to access the Internet from a Bluetooth-equipped PDA or laptop. The lack of syncing software also means it may be awkward to use as an adjunct to a desktop PC. To copy details such as address books or notes from a desktop PC to the Sidekick II, you must cut and paste them into the Web interface offered by the cell phone carrier.

PIM software is "in the works," according to Michael Oldenberg, a Danger spokesperson, but he was unable to offer any projected date for its release.