Some of you know my history in devices, some may not. I previously worked with a start-up Stick Networks, this is where I learned what I know about what Danger has done right with their device.
They have a device phone that does an incredible amount on a slow cheap processor, how? Well they followed the smart route (for now) and made whats called a thin client. They probably don't make anything off the device but rather the server systems that get installed on-site at the carriers. Take for example this picture of my blog. Notice how its all nice and reformatted (its pretty accurate at making the experience nice on the device) Well normally you would say "The web browser is smart and resizes things", nope. What happens when you request a web page it goes through a gateway, that gateway gets the data, grey scales it, resizes it, all types of smart things and only then does it send it down to the device. No need to waste the processing power.
The swivel screen, great invention. The phone is small yet has an easily accessible keyboard. When you think about it people who want a device like this want a big keyboard and a big screen. Well most would solve this problem by putting a big screen with a big keyboard under it, danger did the same but ACTUALLY put it under the screen. Why not combine the 2 biggest things depth wise and not waste valuable space.
Now i don't know the entire architecture of the Danger systems but I can only assume that there is a lot going on the backend, for everything. The AIM gateway probably has something going on too.
And finally the biggest thing they did right, pricing. This phone costs 200 after rebate right now, but don't think that its worth that much...its worth a lot more. The device is heavily subsidized. I can only guess at its actual cost to T-Mobile, but my guess is double if not more.
The one thing that I dislike about it, the plan. Now it is AWESOME that you get unlimited data...but thats only for the first year. Now if they don't have a plan with unlimited in the next year the phone will be thrown aside with the rest of them. I do not believe in data services that are not all-you-can-eat. I just don't feel like going to cnn.com and saying to myself "Well that cost me 2 bucks" I think my former CTO at stick put some numbers together at the data costs about a year ago and came up with that number. I guess my main reasons are, #1 I can't control what data gets to my phone before its sent. #2 about 10% of the data "sent" to me do I actually care about. When I go to cnn.com I just want to check out the breaking news and I am done, I don't care about all their ads, and the sections that bore me.
Would love to hear everyone's comments. If you are wondering "Does this former competitor of Danger recommend this device?" Yes I do recommend it.
You can reach my on my sidekick:
AIM: burchmobile
Email: gmobile@tmail.com
8:57:43 PM 
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