Danger’s Hiptop almost a reality

After nine months of anticipation, Danger Inc. this week confirmed not only that it has partnered with T-Mobile to deliver wireless data to consumers, but that its Hiptop-enabled devices will at last go to market this fall.

T-Mobile, formerly VoiceStream, will be the first wireless operator to offer Hiptop-enabled devices to the consumer market. The devices will be called T-Mobile Sidekicks. Danger’s technology, which was developed specifically with consumers in mind, enables the Sidekick handset to combine mobile phone technology with data communications applications like an HTML web browser, email, instant messaging, personal information management features, games and a digital camera accessory.

Unlike other companies like Palm or Research In-Motion that have tried to market handheld devices to end users themselves, Danger is not dependent on trying to build relationships directly with consumers. The company will rely on carriers because they are the best at marketing to a broad range of customers, said John Arledge, vice president of business development for Danger.

“On top of that we think we have a product that is so easy to use that it is easy for the carriers to market,” he said. “It is the most usable data service and it will be at a consumer price point – this hasn’t existed before.”

The Hiptop platform and services were designed to make the actual devices less expensive and more appealing to consumers. Arledge estimates that devices could cost below $200. However, pricing will be to the discretion of Danger’s carrier partners.

Besides striking a partnership with wireless carriers, Danger announced that it has formed relationships with application and content developers like Pumatech and nGame, manufacturers including Flextronics and Benchmark and other enabling technology providers such as Kyocera and Intel.

“We have all of the parties involved now that make this promise of ours a reality,” Arledge said.