T-Mobile today announced a new messaging-centric slider phone, The T-Mobile Shadow. And based on our initial impressions, it looks to be miles better than the lame Samsung Blast. Like the BlackBerry Pearl, this stylish 5.3-ounce device features a SureType keypad and predictive text software for easy messaging, but it runs Windows Mobile 6. A fresh new top-level interface lets you do a lot more from the Today screen than other WM6 handsets, like pressing one button to compose e-mails, look at your photos, and playing tunes. And tooling around the menus is pretty simple, thank to the spin navigation wheel and large and bright 2.6-inch QVGA display. The Shadow sort of looks like what the Zune might be if it was a phone--in a good way.

 

This lightweight handset includes a good mix of communication features, including EDGE, stereo Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity, and four integrated instant-messaging clients: AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger. Multimedia features include a two-megapixel camera, HTML Web browser, microSD expansion slot (supporting up to 4GB cards), and stereo Bluetooth capability. The Shadow has pretty good productivity chops as well, including the ability to edit and view Microsoft Office documents. We’re not too keen on the SureType keyboard compared to a real QWERTY, but it’s fine for sending a quick IM or text.

 

The T-Mobile Shadow is priced at $149 with a two-year contract. Read our full review.