T-Mobile's two new Sidekicks

Both models have a 1.3 megapixel camera, though the larger LX model also includes a flash, and both incorporate MMS, SMS and popular IM clients Windows Live Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger.

The US$299 Sidekick LX hits shelves on October 24th, but is available (in both “midnight blue” and “espresso brown”) to T-mobile customers on October 17th. Its three inch WQVGA 400x240 resolution LCD screen has a “mood light” setting which notifies users when text messages, e-mails or calls are received - replies can be composed on the QWERTY keyboard. A built in music player reads MP3 and AAC files, and the phone has room for up to four gigabytes of removable memory.

The US$199 Sidekick Slide is the LX writ small, with just a two inch QVGA screen. But the phone loses little in terms of features, including a QWERTY keyboard, 1.3 megapixel camera and the messaging features of the LX. The Slide is available from November 7th.