Mahlen: Regarding how "it's premature to judge Danger," their time is running out... When the hiptop first came out, I could not have been more excited and enthusiastic about it (and it's heretofore spurned potential).

I'm halfway through my one-year contract and they've just about burned off all that good will. If things don't improve, drastically, come October, I won't be renewing.

Dan: I switched up to the $60/mo 500/Unlimited plan that they finally offered a few months ago. So, that'd work if you're going to pick up one of the upcoming hiptop colors (they've just about given away all the current Sidekicks), but if this program loading fiasco doesn't get sorted out, forget it, why not go w/ a Symbian or Palm device that actually *has* tools and a developer community (err, not 'developer dollars').

That being said, I don't think there's ever going to be the hope of a true 'open' smart-phone platform anytime soon as long as the carriers have final say. But you know, those new tri-mode prototypes ( + mesh networks) sure look interesting...

[one can dream, right?]