Recently in Blackberry Category

Ina Fried of CNet reports that Microsoft has recovered most if not all of the T-Mobile Sidekick data lost by its Danger subsidiary, which should be good news for those customers who haven't abandoned the devices in the past few weeks.

More great reporting from Ina: The Sidekick has many deaf users, and they are far from happy at not being able to use the smartphones to keep in contact with the world. Since the Sidekick is marketed as a messaging device, has a nice keyboard and screen — and is available with a data-only plan, you can see why it is popular among the deaf.

Alas, a lack of development in the Sidekick device itself has sent many deaf users over to the Blackberry camp, and this mishap, which has both put users' data as well as their ability to use the devices at all, in considerable jeopardy. ... There's always another device — and another plan — on the horizon.

Ina's article has audio, video ... it's all there. Very well done.

As for me, I haven't yet opted for even a minimal texting plan, even though I specifically chose a phone that is built just for such activity (the LG Neon), and is as much aimed at kids way younger than my 40-something self as is the Sidekick. My problem: $5 for 200 text messages is too few messages, and $20 for an unlimited amount is too much money. Charge me $10 for either 1,000 or an unlimited amount and you have ... an extra $10 a month from me. I know nobody cares, so I'll crawl back into my Frugal Luddite hole.

File this under "holy crap."

Matthew Miller of ZDNet elaborates:

AT&T is subsidizing the iPhone this time, much like the other mobile phone purchases made in the United States and may be paying Apple as much as US$325 for each iPhone 3G that is purchased.

...

Don't worry about AT&T though, since they will make up this $325 and a bit more with the increased data and text message rates. Plus, with the new lower initial out-of-the pocket price for new subscribers we may see a lot more iPhones flying off the shelves next month than when the first generation iPhone started off at $599 last year.

For the record, I wasn't worried.

In other iPhone news: AT&T wants 3G users to pay more for data and text messages.

An observation from one poor SOB: That's me, in case you hadn't figured it out. I've found a lot more people out there with cell-phone data plans than I expected. Many people are happy to pay $70 a month to talk/text/browse/e-mail from their mobile handset, be it a Blackberry, iPhone or other such keyboard-equipped device.

Not being a user of either the iPhone, Blackberry or ... anything beyond my now-ancient Motorola phone, if e-mail is really important, a Blackberry or Palm Treo with a full QWERTY button keyboard seems to be a better choice than the iPhone's touchscreen. I say seems because I really don't know, but I'd like for anybody out there who has experience with such devices to tell me.

Send me an e-mail at steven.rosenberg@dailynews.com.