Spring 2001: Danger’s mysterious plans start to draw attention
Fortune Magazine puts Danger Research’s “hush-hush” mobile platform on its list of “Cool 2001” products, even before its release, along with a tiny thumbnail blueprint (enlarged at right) teasing what’s to come. Writes the magazine …
Its badass name is almost enough to make Danger Research (as in “Danger, Will Robinson!”) cool. But Danger also promises a hip product. Its form is still hush-hush, but here’s what we know: Danger has developed a computing platform to deliver Websites (complete with graphics!) and other data over cell phone networks to a pager-sized handset. The service will be sold by wireless carriers, and the consumer gadget should go for around $200. Danger, RIM BlackBerry!
ZDNet: “Of course, a handheld device is never going to be a total replacement for Web browsing on a full-sized display, but it looks like Danger may come the closest yet to delivering a decent facsimile.”
USA Today’s Leonard Fischer: “I describe the Danger device as mysterious because the company has released very little information about it and only a handful of media folks actually have seen prototypes in action. But after spending considerable time talking with Andy Rubin, Danger’s president and CEO, and Joe Britt, the company’s chief technology officer, it’s clear that the team behind the Danger device hopes to revolutionize handheld Web surfing and communications.
Next: Danger unveils the Hiptop
- The Beginning: Danger is formed by three Apple veterans
- Spring 2001: Danger’s mysterious plans start to draw attention
- September 2001: Danger unveils the Hiptop
- December 2001: Woz is on board
- October 2002: Hiptop debuts on T-Mobile as the Sidekick
- Fall 2004: Celebrities embrace a new Sidekick
- February 2005: Paris Hilton is hacked
- Fall 2005: Google acquires Android, sets stage for mobile push
- February 2008: Microsoft acquires Danger
- October 2008: Danger server meltdown melts the Sidekick
- April 2010: Microsoft launches the Kin, briefly
- February 2011: End of the Sidekick’s Danger era
- March 2011: Sidekick goes Android
