T-Mobile Sidekick Slide
by on Wednesday 12 December 2007 94 Comments |
T-Mobile’s Sidekick Slide is the company’s latest idiot-proof messaging phone for the youth market, following on from the Sidekick II. It may not be as powerful as Windows Mobile or Symbian smartphones, but what it lacks in features it makes up for in ease of use. The Sidekick II’s rotating screen has been replaced with a slide-up display, which reveals the Qwerty keyboard.
As the Slide is wide and tall, there’s a fair bit of room for the keys, which are well-spaced and easy to use. When you first turn on the Slide, a setup Wizard walks you through its main features and gives you an overview of how to use the phone.
Once you’ve scrolled through the licence agreement, you’re asked to fill in your details to create a new T-Mobile Sidekick email account. The Slide will use this account by default, but you can add your own POP3 or IMAP account if you wish. The phone will automatically download email settings depending on the address you enter, and it also has default settings for the most common providers.
The Slide is pretty simple to use. The main menu screen is uncluttered and consists of big, friendly icons for each of the phone’s main functions. The operating system is navigated with a trackball and you click to select each option. This works fine most of the time, as you’re given a clear list of options with colourful graphics for each function.
Some options are, however, hidden away in sub-menus that you access by pressing the menu key, so it's not always clear where a certain option lies. The Slide’s web browser copes better with full-size pages than many phones, and websites look impressive on its vibrant colour screen. Like Apple’s iPhone, the Slide only has GPRS capabilities, but this isn’t a problem when browsing the web as images are heavily compressed by T-Mobile’s servers, so websites load quickly.
There’s also a calendar application with Day, Week, Month and Year views. While the Slide can't synchronise your contacts and calendar with Outlook, the information stored is automatically backed up to T-Mobile's servers. You can access this by logging into your account with a PC's web browser.
While its user interface is far from perfect, the Sidekick Slide remains far easier to use than most smartphones. It's great for email and the online backup feature is particularly useful.
Originally published on www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk, now incorporated into Broadband Genie
© Dennis Publishing
© Dennis Publishing
Comments
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it`z compact && easy to use.Gotta ♥ iit -
This Rockin!!! I love it!
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its so great even tho camera is 1.3 when you put them on to your computer they come out great, much better than previous phone that have had higher mp cameras plus no fussy software. Sk slide is used as an external drive so folders etc are used to hold your pictures - very easy access easy to use.Love it. Just owuld like to kow how to get msn messenger on nit ♥
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Amazing! it's flawless.
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How do i get msn messenger on the phone, as i only have yahoo.It keeps saying i need to have the lastest upgrade for yahoo, to add an msn user.............................................can anyone help as i dont have a clew.
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Ye i have that problem too :(if anyone can tell me how to get msn on my sidekick slide...or when the app will be available cos all i have is games n like callory counters(WTF?)can u send me an email at gingermosha@hotmail.co.uk i will be very greatful
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the msn messenger comes in june and will be a free download from the catalogue. my t mobile guy told me lol
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omgg junee how poo:(when does the myspace one?i have the problem but dnt want to wait for june!!
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does ne1 no if i can set an mp3 song as a ringtone?? or can it jus not be done? thanks
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my side kick isnt recognising my email account and wont recieve emails from that account. duz anyone have n e ideas?????
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if yoo cant wait to get msn messenger on your sidekick from the catolouge go to google search straight from your sidekick and type in ebuddy mobile and then you have got a choice of msn aol yahoo its very simple to use x
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gr8 fone, i love it and now i know about messenger, i'm even happier. tested out ebuddy mobile today and worked like a charm.and nope no way to set mp3 as ringtones, which i was annoyed to figure out, but no probs otherwise.
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man its a great phone but the music player on mine is kinda messed up...like when i pause a song after a while it wont recognize it on the card.. anyone have any ideas? i might need to get a new sd card you think?well email me at footballnunez79@aol.com and thanks
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How do I load photos on to my computer from the slide. I have the USB plugged into the phone and computer but it's saying I need to insert a disk into drive E
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ok probably being really thick but how does the micro sd card work? :(
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what make & model did you guys select as i went to the eBuddy website on my phone, and the sidekick slide isn't listed??
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there is a kind of/kind of not proper msn messenger, not great as it doesnt refresh page for u like ebuddy, but it does let you put 2 contacts in convo.... so yeah mim.live.com
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Thanks for replying.... is there a way to download eBuddy to the sidekick slide?? as in a earlier post you said you had tested it and it worked 'like a charm'??
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How do I get windows live messenger on my sk slide I go to my instant messaging part but there's only yahoo messenger there...?
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How do I get windows live messenger on my sk slide I go to my instant messaging part but there's only yahoo messenger there...?
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and no way to download ebuddy, everything is used on the web browser section, just basically signing in on the web as usual.u have to get onto web to do windows live messenger, theres no download for it by the looks of it.
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i got my slide da uver day n im luvin evry bit shame bout the msn waitin part im desperate 4 it
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There is no MSN comeing on the sidekick slide.eBuddy is your best bet for MSN.There may be a update for the Yahoo in late 2009 for sidekick.
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Any more questions add me on ellday89@yahoo.com
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im getting one on saturday cant wait!!
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Just got the slide. Took ages to activate, but well worth the wait. Using this next to my iPhone but as great as the iPhone is, i have ten times more fun with the slide.
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after waiting for an hour for my sidekick Slide to "Activate" i decided to play around with it. If you press Menu and the "L" key at the same time time, it will bypass the activation screen. Happy sidekicking!!!!!!!
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[quote=Ell Day]There is no MSN comeing on the sidekick slide.eBuddy is your best bet for MSN.There may be a update for the Yahoo in late 2009 for sidekick.[/quote]and...who told you that?i'm sure the t-mobile guy (above somwhere) didn't just say it was coming out in june because he felt like sayin itsidekick slides in america have msn so why shouldn't we have it in the uk?it's obviously coming out or else they wouldn't have msn in the manual
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im thinkng of gttn this phone is it a gud idea?
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how do you open you top 5?
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Is there ANY possible way to get MP3's as ringtones??
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I just brought a sidekick slide and ive waited over 16 hours for it to activate and it still hasnt what is wrong with it?
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dudes!! myspace is out now!! it's so cool but i want msn to come out now ^_^
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how much is it in £
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how much is it in £
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the only thing i have a problem with is opening the phone to dial a number. It would be great if we did not have to slide open the phone to dial a call. Once you dial can you slide close the phone and still keep talking or not?
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You could just unlock the sidekick while it is closed (the menu button at the top left corner and the arrow at the botm right at the same time) then select someone to call from your address book. However you can still close and open while speaking. The only way to end a call is to press the red 'hang up' button.
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I tried to hold the menu and left shoulder key at the same time but it's no working what should I do?????
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ive got my girl sidekick phone and she has bin waitin for like 24 hours now and it still aint activated.... im worried now cause i dont no whether the phones got something wrong or if its normal phoned up tmobile loads of times and there instructions do no work with the gprs thing? can anyone PLEASE HELP ME PLEASE CAUSE IM GETTIN A HEADACHE OVER THIS STUPID SIDEKICK SLIDE PHONE!!!!
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Im writing this on my slide! I love it! V. awesome phone.I'm fairly sure the "3" owns the rights to mobile msn here in the uk. And june is finished with after tomorrow. It doesn't look like msn will be here any time soon!Just get all your friends to get yahoo! Its better anyways.Xx
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yea u can close it
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if your phone wont activate. ring t-mobile and make sure that the sidekick applications is onyour account. then take out the sim card and start up the phone, then press the jump button (top left) go to settings then network options, allow GPRS data roaming.then turn the wireless off (top option) leave it for a minute or so then turn it back on. then turn the phone off and put the simcard in then turn it back on and give it a few minutes then it should start working. any problems e-mailme.
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heres my email fringe@t-mobile-sidekick.co.uk
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Msn is comin coz I was wtchin the sidekick slide firstlook on youtube and the woman showed windows live messenger on it I can't find it either im gonna fone t-mobile l8r 4 info and also I hav updated 2 be able 2 have my faves. ALSO IM ON SIDEKICK SLIDE NOW X
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heya i just bought me new t-mobile sidekick 2day, readin ur mesages and i pursume cnt get msn then, tryin 2 put me own song as main ringtone n cudnt find way, any1 know how 2? any know any place i can get free games for the fone aswel, msg me on my email on this, fanks for any1 readin
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got a sidekick a few days ago and it was still activating after 24 hours, i phoned t-mobile and they told me how to set it up, so it was working 10 minutes later, if yours hadnt activated and you phoned t mobile and it "didnt work" ... they wouldnt just hang up and leave you to figure it out on your own. You pay a lot for the phone, its their job to help, so to be honest... you either didnt phone t mobile, or you didnt listen to instructions... I love my phone, everything works fine on it..Msn would be good, but its not a huge loss, why would you want to be on msn whilst your out anyway? There is a thing called... LIFE.=]
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so, im getting a hiptop slide on saturday.i live in australia :Dcan anyone tell me how long it reeally does take to activate the phone?Cheers mate :Dseeya. :wink:
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oh and would this make a difference, the phone is made by motorola and telstra over here, not tmobile and telstra :)if that helped.... :oops:
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE my phone! Its my life and pretty much attached to me at all times :D
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Writing with my sidekick which on overall is not too bad exept for a few things, firstly it seems that since I've got it (5 month ago), T-Mobile keeps saying that we will soon have access to windows live messenger... guess what we are all still waiting!!!!Then the other real pain is that we do not have access to google map which I found really convenient to use on a mobile eve n without a GPS!!!It was a good phone but I guess it lack a lot, I am not even talking about youtube and the big no no to read vids !!! Loved it but I am not too sure anymore !!!
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[quote=chanel frm brockley]Msn is comin coz I was wtchin the sidekick slide firstlook on youtube and the woman showed windows live messenger on it I can't find it either im gonna fone t-mobile l8r 4 info and also I hav updated 2 be able 2 have my faves. ALSO IM ON SIDEKICK SLIDE NOW X[/quote]they were using either the australian or american version.:)
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My Sidekick Slide just broke recently and they REFUSE to fix it, even though i bought a brand new phone and used it for 1 month. They checked the serial number and it turned out to be a recall!!!!!! AND ITS WITHING WARRANTY. They said they will give me the new lx for DOUBLE THE PRICE. i think tmobile has SOME NERVE!!!
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I am trying to find out if the Sidekick has User Selectable Fonts like the Blackberry to add to my Database.Phones get smaller and yet nobody appears to be worried about the effect on childrens eyes as the fonts get smaller.User Selectable Fonts should be the standard to include everybody and Font information should be included in the specifications.
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I just purchased a Sidekick Slide. Can anyone tell me if and how to use the phone as a modem to connect to my laptop?
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I just purchased a sk slide. I want to use it as a modem for my laptop. Can anyone tell me how to accomplish this?
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Ive had it for a month &i don't know how to put music on it or use my top 5.Can anyone help me?thanks:)
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Does the Sidekick Slide have User Selectable Fonts?
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I am rili rili rili rili rili confused wich is the newest and the best sidekick also which ones are out in the uk i'm hopein 2 get 1 for christmas i'm looking at idealy the LX or the Slide or the orange 1 thats in al the movies errrm forgot name it in step up 2 and gossip girl or the second 1 2 that but dono if it's out in the uk! plz hellllllp!!!!!!! xx Cx
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MYSPACE IS AVAILABLE ALREADY :p
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i have been researching the sidekick slide as i would like to get 1 but im confused about a couple of things can you put songs on your sidekick?can you use songs as your ringtone?what is your top 5?does it have msn and myspace in the uk?do you have to pay to go on the internetcan i still use my email if its not yahoo or aol?what do you mean by activing it?sorry to ask so many questions thanks if you can help
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I have heard that the Sidekick Slide has been disconinued.
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Ok, so most people bought the Sidekick slide for the messenger because its a teen phone and it's what we do - and there is NO msn! Thats so suckish! I can't believe it. Having to go online to use ebuddy is a real bummer! :SDoes anybody know how long you would be on ebuddy for before unlimited internet (1GB) would be up?I have Web'n'walk 30+Thanks.And if you find out about msn please email me on emraw-xx@t-mobile-sidekick.co.uk
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Okay here is one I cant figure out for the life of me.Where the heck is the underscore symbol?I need it , I want it, because i use it.Now it seems there isnt one?
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Does the slide have bluetooth guys?
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the phone always looks brighter on the pictures compared to what i have in real life hahaha ! i love this phone though. its my baby and i always show it off in public lol!
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my phone never looks as bright as what it is on the pictures lol! :) oh well i love my phone, its my baby and im always showing it off! :D
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you can sue the internet in the uk :) im on it. tmobile does it but you HAVE to pay £7.50 a month. myspace can be downloaded but i find it easier to use on the internet and msn does not come with it. yahoo! does but i also downloaded AIM off the phone. you can use your phone to check the emails on the internet and when you get the phone you'll understand what it means by activating, they go through it with you as an intro. hope that helps because i have a UK sidekick. tmobile are the only people that do them :) and the sidekick isnt discontinued in the uk.
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you have to phone tmobile. i had to and they do it for you straigh away :)
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in UK you can only get it on tmobile contract :)
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I just clicked on "owners manual" on the menu - help and then clicked on windows live messenger and it says .... "Note: This application is not available in all product configurations. Product configurations vary by wireless operator". This is september and it says NOT available. :(
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i bought my sidekick slide off ebay its been unlocked to all networks but the problem is my internets not connecting for some reason is there anyone who is able to help me do this?
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here's my answers to some of your questions yeah,PUTTING MUSIC ON THE SK SLIDE:connect it to your computer.open it in my computer.put all the songs you want to in the "MUSIC" folder.**NOTE: if you put more than 50 songs on, this slows down the phone. if you want to put more songs than that then get a memory card with a larger capacity. MP3 AS A RINGTONE:turn on your stereo.play the song you want.on your sk slide go to "RECORD NEW RINGTONE" under "SOUND PROFILES" under "SETTINGS".THE UNDERSCORE SYMBOL:press ALT + u. ACTIVATION: if it takes more than 24hrs then T-Mobile (for the trillionth time) has put blackberry services on your phone instead of the sidekick services. TOP 5:i have no idea what that is.EMAIL:if you want to check hotmail email then go to: http://mobile.live.comINTERNET COSTS:god knows what contract you people chose but i get unlimited internet FOR FREE and i only pay £22.50 a month
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It a very good phone. i pay £40 pounds a month with 700 mins free and free internet 24/7. Its the best phone i have owned so far and simple to use.All my mates want one.
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Right i wann get the sidekick phone and i've read through all these comments and i wanna know if it is worth getting it or not. people keep on saying they're having problems with it and i don't wanna get it if it breaks or doesn't work properly. i'm gunna get it from america cause my brothers over there and i was wondering if it will work over here. also is it easy to work? or is it really confusing?
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Don't get one from America. I was told when on holiday there in May that it not work in the U.K, even if it's unlocked. If you get one from this country, make sure you get it from T-Mobile direct on contract otherwise internet will not work! Hope this helps!
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Thanks :) i'll keep on looking. my brother has moved there and he got his unlocked and it worked over there. is it just a one way thing?
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its because t-mobile is very clever.you can't use the sidekick slide without the pay-monthly sim card.so you can't use pay-as-you-go on it.you have to use the sim card that came with it.coz that's the simcard that they activated for the 'sidekick' package (i.e. internet).you probably won't be able to use the internet on there if you didn't get the sim with it.x
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i have the sidekick slide and yeah it deff was cool at first until it started to delete all my contacts and turn off by its self o and call ppl without me even in the room, it sucks now and im really pissed i paid so much for it
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ive had thiis phone for 2 months
++,, ii lovezzz iiit
love Rox[ii]ee,,x -
yeah i luv my Hiptop...but about 5mins ago it shut itself off then when it started up again...all my inbox's etc were EMPTY...my contacts are ALL GONE!!! everything has been deleted,i cant get anything back.STUPID ASS PHONE,I WANT TO TERMINATE MY CONTRACT!
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ok so i took the battery out of my phone and all my contacts are gone and ringtones how do i get them back!!! PLZZZZZZZZZZ HELP MEEEEE :(
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"ok so i took the battery out of my phone and all my contacts are gone and ringtones how do i get them back!!!
PLZZZZZZZZZZ HELP MEEEEE :("
your phone's buggered. report it!
i take my battery out every now and then and still have all my data -
Hey guys!
I emailed T-Mobile to ask them about the release of msn and this is the reply I got:
"Thanks for your email, asking me when windows live messenger will be available to download on T- Mobile sidekick slide.
I've contacted with our technical department regarding your query and they suggested that, at present you won't be able to download windows live messenger on your handset. We won't be able to tell you the exact date, when you'll be able to download windows live messenger." -
does anybody elses slide manage to call people even when its locked?its driving me insane now!
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ive purchased a sidekick 2 from holland that is unblocked, my activation screen comes up but i cant bypass it for sum reason is there anythin i can do, all i can do at the min is recieve calls, its been activating for about 24 hrs now rang tmobile who have manually activated it but the screen stays on and they've told me to wait, any ideas
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"ive purchased a sidekick 2 from holland that is unblocked, my activation screen comes up but i cant bypass it for sum reason is there anythin i can do, all i can do at the min is recieve calls, its been activating for about 24 hrs now rang tmobile who have manually activated it but the screen stays on and they've told me to wait, any ideas"
try turning it off and taking the battery out and then turn it on again -
does anybody elses slide manage to call people even when its locked?
its driving me insane now!
there's something wrong with it
report it to t-mobile -
Hi just wondering if anyone can help me because no-one seems to be able to! I got my sidekick II off ebay and it's unlocked and I was on o2 but switched to t-mobile because the internet wasn't working. The guy at t-mobile said the internet would now work (im paying the extra £7.50), but it kept saying the apn and gprs settings were wrong. I found those on the internet (i think) and manually changed it and it's stopped saying that and looks like it should work as the phone only bit has dissappeared from the top right, but it's still waiting for activation. I haven't waited 48 hours yet and my phone's been off and on, but can anyone give me any help? the people at t-mobile are useless and told me to ring the manufacturor who told me to ring t-mobile. any advice? i can't be the only one in england with an american sidekick. On aol IM when I try to sign on it says network data services are currently unavailable (Code NET13) and internet says currently unavailable.will it now activate?any help/advice would be appreciated.
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Can u get sidekicks in the uk and will they work over here???
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[quote=andrea juenau]ok so i took the battery out of my phone and all my contacts are gone and ringtones how do i get them back!!!
PLZZZZZZZZZZ HELP MEEEEE :([/quote]
just correcting myself here
just wait a bit, your contacts should reappear after a while
i dropped my phone the other day and the contacts were all gone but because it's all back up on the internet they're retrieved after a few minutes -
does the sk slide have a facebook app?
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im so pissed in this phone.. i cant use the stuffs in here.. -
EHH i have ordered this phone from america and it says its unlocked but i am just wonderin if it will work over here in the uk. i dnt wanna go on the net on it but will it let me use it for phoning and texting ppl?????? PLZ HELP ME
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my dad bought a sidekick slide in november 2008 and they sent a letter out saying after my contract has ended they will completely shut my phone down so and i could of changed my phone 6 months ago and my dad has paid £720 all together for that phone and he will have to buy a another phone. if you are thinking about buying this phone don't it wont work unless you are in the usa.
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