Now it's Official: Sidekick 3, D-Wade Edition

Only in Miami does a sports-themed limited edition phone look good enough to take down the runway. But that's exactly what the T-Mobile Sidekick 3, D-Wade Edition-designed by NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade-achieves. Unlike some of the edgier, tattoo-covered limited edition Sidekicks of yore, this one is subtle and elegant with white and tan accents and a back made of the same tough material as a basketball.

According to T-Mobile, the impetus behind getting Wade to collaborate on this limited edition communicator phone was his No. 3 Miami Heat shirt number (just like the Sidekick 3!). But it turns out the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year and recent GQ cover boy is also an avid Sidekick 3 user-you know, text messaging his agent and PR folks and all that. The phone also has a bunch of gold 3s splattered around the screen bezel.

Someone says beige and gold phone to me and I usually think, no thanks. But this limited edition doodad is a nice piece of understated unisex bling suitable for any Paris or Romeo (don't forget it's V-Day on Wednesday), whether they're basketball fans or not. It's $299.99 with a two-year contract, or $399.99 on its own (the regular Sidekick 3 is $199.99 with a two-year contract). Still, at least one person disagrees with me on the overall look of the thing.

[Okay, so I was foolishly trying to honor the embargo on this one, which was supposed to be Monday, February 12 at 12:01AM EST, but it turns out that both Gina and Gizmodo—not ot mention CNET—have beat me to the punch! Gizmodo has a nice interview with Dwyane Wade, with all the details on his Sidekick usage, if you want to find out more.]

Related links: NBA's Dwyane Wade Limited Edition Sidekick 3