The world-famous Gizmodo Buzz Index this week compares AT&T Wireless’ ogo, Motorola’s A630 and IMfree, and the Sidekick II. While these devices vary widely in price and implementation, I went ahead and compared them on the grounds that they all have those small keyboards—thumbpads—and sell themselves heavily on the merit of their instant messaging abilities. Although the ogo, A630, and Sidekick II operate on various cellular networks, the IMfree operates on the 802.11b protocol – meaning you can really only use it around your house where you’ve installed the applicable software on the screen.
Still, I think consumer interest in instant messaging is still very much on the rise, so one of these devices could pave the way for an entirely new segment of gadgets. Actually, let me restate that—clearly, Sidekick and Sidekick II have already paved the way. And they’ve got a heck of a lead in the Buzz Index—will that keep them ahead of will “my Sidekick” become generic for any IM tool?
Related
ogo Archives [Gizmodo]
Motorola IMfree Archives [Gizmodo]
Motorola A630 Archives [Gizmodo]
Sidekick II Archives [Gizmodo]
