DeafPagers.com Blog

T-Mobile deaf favorite shootout: BB Curve vs. SK LX

December 29th, 2007 · 6 Comments

→ 6 CommentsTags: Wireless Device Reviews

Comparing the Sidekick 3, iD, LX, and Slide

December 21st, 2007 · 6 Comments

The Sidekick series is enjoying the most diverse lineup T-Mobile has ever offered. There are a total of three models on the market. We updated our comparison table so you can see how they compare with each other, and with the most recent discontinued model, the SK3. Enjoy!

Features	Sidekick 3	Sidekick ID	Sidekick LX	Sidekick Slide
Photo (not to scale)
Instant messaging	Yes - AIM, Yahoo, and MSN	Yes - AIM, Yahoo, and MSN	Yes - AIM, Yahoo, and MSN	Yes - AIM, Yahoo, and MSN
Built in Camera	Yes - 1.3 megapixel	No	Yes - 1.3 megapixel with flash	Yes - 1.3 megapixel
Bluetooth	Yes - Bluetooth 1.2	No	Yes - Bluetooth 2.0	Yes - Bluetooth 2.0
MP3 player	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
mini-SD card slot	Yes - up to 2GB	No	Yes, 128MB card incl.	Yes
Removable rechargeable battery & estimated life	Yes - 1500 mAh = 4.5 hours talk time 3 day standby	Yes (?)= 5 hour talk time 6 day standby	Yes - 1540 mAh = 6 hour talk time 4 day standby	Yes - 1130 mAh = 5 hour talk time 3 day standby
Keyboard	QWERTY (Solid)	QWERTY (Solid)	QWERTY (Rubber)	QWERTY (Solid)
Text messaging (SMS)	Yes - Unlimited with Data only plan	Yes - Unlimited with Data only plan	Yes - Unlimited with Data only plan	Yes - Unlimited with Data only plan
Web Browsing	Real web browsing	Real web browsing	Real web browsing	Real web browsing
Size	5.1 x 2.3 x 0.8 inches	5.1 x 2.5 x 0.87 inches	5.2 x 2.4 x 0.7 inches	4.6 x 2.4 x 0.7 inches
Display	2.6 inches diagonal 65,000 colors 240×160 pixel resolution	65,000 colors 240×160 pixel resolution	3 inches diagonal 65,000 colors 400×240 pixel resolution	65,000 colors 320×240 pixel resolution
Weight	6.7 ounces	6.2 ounces	5.8 ounces	5.3 ounces
Navigation	small trackball	small trackball	small trackball	small trackball
Relay Service	IP-Relay and i711	IP-Relay and i711	IP-Relay and i711	IP-Relay and i711
Hearing Aid Compatible (M3 or M4)	No	No	M3	No
TTY?	Yes - Option offered by i711	Yes - Option offered by i711	Yes - Option offered by i711	Yes - Option offered by i711
Vibration?	Yes - Email, SMS, IM, and Phone	Yes - Email, SMS, IM, and Phone	Yes - Email, SMS, IM, and Phone	Yes - Email, SMS, IM, and Phone
Network / Frequency	T-Mobile / International capable GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz	T-Mobile GSM/GPRS 850 MHz;1900 MHz	T-Mobile / International capable GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz	T-Mobile / International capable GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz
Adjustable Fonts?	No	No	Yes, 3 sizes, approx 18, 16, 14 points.	Yes, 3 sizes, approx 18, 16, 14 points.
MSRP: (often will be cheaper due to contracts and rebates)	$299.99	$249.99	$399.99	$299.99

→ 6 CommentsTags: Wireless Device Reviews

Motorola’s Sidekick slides back into stock!

December 6th, 2007 · 1 Comment

Good news! The Motorola-manufactured Sidekick Slide is finally available via T-Mobile again. T-Mobile had stopped selling it after an issue had been identified where the battery apparently would lose touch with the Slide’s internal contacts and kill power to the Slide whenever the screen was opened or closed one too many times. This issue has been fixed, and now the Slide is being sold by T-Mobile again.

→ 1 CommentTags: Wireless Devices Issues

iPhone Deaf/HoH Issues

December 6th, 2007 · 2 Comments

The iPhone has been a hot topic among deaf and hard of hearing users lately. On DeafMac.org, there was a “special” iPhone plan announced for the deaf, which would have been offered through an AT&T store in Colorado. Apparently the store manager was sympathetic to the fact that there was no official data-only plan for the iPhone. However this special offer never really saw the light of day, after AT&T Corporate got wind of this plan, and shut it down. TUAW.com also got wind of this and posted about it, bringing this issue to the attention of their regular readers.

TUAW.com also posted earlier about the fact that it was possible for some iPhone users to REMOVE the DATA plan to save money. It seemed like it was not fair, being able to get voice only plans on the iPhone, and not data only plans. However, this was too, short lived. The ability to remove data plans from the iPhone is now gone.

There seems to be a silver lining to the issue of having a TAP/data-only plan for the iPhone - TUAW was able to get what seems to be a promise from AT&T that they are working on a TAP/data-only plan for the iPhone. Hopefully this won’t take too long to come to fruition.

On the hard of hearing side of iPhone matters, you may remember that I originally reported that the iPhone apparently was undergoing HAC testing. Unfortunately, it appears that the iPhone has gained an exemption from the FCC from being required to be HAC compatible. Strangely enough, the Apple document linked in my earlier article still says “Testing is in progress”! This development is quite unfortunate. I can understand a small company with a single cell phone getting exempted, but this is Apple - surely they can afford to get the iPhone tested, and it’d be another thing that they can point out, that the iPhone is accessible to those who depend on hearing aids.

Hopefully these issues will be only temporary, and sooner or later, Apple will do the right thing in both cases! If you are an Apple shareholder, you can always contact management and express your displeasure and encourage them to do right by us deaf and hard of hearing people!

→ 2 CommentsTags: Wireless Devices Issues

i711 Wireless relay client finally available on Sidekick LX!

December 3rd, 2007 · 1 Comment

Customers have been emailing DeafPagers.com customer service and complaining that the IP-Relay and i711 Wireless clients are not available via the Download Catalog for the new Sidekick LX. Good news! Last Friday, Danger added GoAmerica’s i711 Wireless relay client software to the Sidekick LX Download Catalog. Also, DeafPagers recently spoke with IP-Relay Staff, and we were informed that the IP-Relay client will be added to the Sidekick LX’s catalog very soon.

If you have not yet loaded the i711 Wireless relay client on your new Sidekick LX, you can visit the i711 web site to see instructions on how to add it to your Sidekick LX.

We are monitoring the status of the IP-Relay client. When it is added to the LX’s catalog, we will post a update here at our Blog.

→ 1 CommentTags: Relay Services · Wireless Devices Issues

Sneak Preview of i711 Wireless relay service for Sidekick LX and Slide

November 21st, 2007 · 3 Comments

Are you an early adopter of the new pair of Sidekicks from T-Mobile - the LX and the Slide? Are you finding yourself wanting to go to i711 Wireless when you need to make a relay or TTY call but can’t because it’s not available from the Download Catalog? Well, you just have to hold your horses a little longer. GoAmerica has been fixing up its i711 Wireless application to bring it up to par with the high resolution displays of the LX and Slide, and has submitted the application to Danger for approval. I was able to play with the same pre-release build of i711 Wireless (on a SK LX) that GoAmerica submitted to Danger for approval, and got permission to share a little about it with readers of this blog.

GoAmerica really has stepped up and made i711 Wireless a great looking application on the LX’s gorgeous high resolution display. You can clearly see the difference in the screenshots below:

Old i711 Wireless Jump Menu
New i711 Wireless Jump Menu

Old i711 Wireless Main Screen
New i711 Wireless Main Screen
(with SK LX Large font size enabled)

All the i711 Wireless functionality you are used to - such as dialing from your Address Book, looking up recent calls, making new contacts directly from the i711 Wireless main screen, changing font sizes (i711 Wireless apparently still uses its own font and sizes) and colors, and so forth - are still present in this new version.

You can still subscribe to the Wireless Toolkit and gain access to TTY calling, TTY messaging, direct pager-to-pager messaging, direct access to AAA emergency services, and InSight Cinema information on captioned movies. Pricing remains the same at $9.99 per month with a six-month minimum.

With the upgrades to the Danger OS running the Sidekick, some nice benefits come to i711 Wireless users. The high resolution screen looks like it makes it possible to squeeze more characters in on a relay call - you won’t have to scroll up as often to read what was said earlier. Also, it’s even easier to switch to i711 Wireless with the new QuickJump feature which is accessed by hitting Jump/End at the same time.
i711 Wireless QuickJump

I used this new version of i711 Wireless with pretty much no problems at all. It was nice to have direct access to relay functionality, and not fumble around while I was inside AIM trying to recall the number I needed to dial, or even try to copy and paste the phone number. It feels like you’re using a Sorenson VP - with direct access to VRS right there on the main screen. I like being able to switch to i711 Wireless from wherever I am in the SK, and dial a number just by typing the name of the person I want to call, and i711 just looks it up directly from my Address Book! It is nice to be notified with a strong vibration when i711 connects to an operator or the TTY on the other end picks up the call. I do wish that i711 Wireless would vibrate the SK when the call was ringing, just like a regular phone, so I wouldn’t have to keep looking at the screen, making it easier for me to multitask. Speaking of multitasking - I was able to switch out of i711 while on a relay or TTY call, look up some information in my calendar, and then switch back, and continue the call without any problems.

If you have a Sidekick LX or Slide, you will find i711 Wireless indispensable for your communication needs, and a pleasure to use. You will need to be patient and wait for Danger and GoAmerica to make the new version of i711 Wireless available through your LX or Slide’s Download Catalog. i711 Wireless is also available for previous models of the Sidekick via your device’s Download Catalog.

Many thanks to GoAmerica for providing the loaner SK LX and a preview copy of i711 Wireless for this review.

→ 3 CommentsTags: Wireless Device Reviews · Relay Service Reviews