BlackBerry touchscreen phone to be dubbed 'Thunder'

The industrious Boy Genius has apparently unearthed more juicy tidbits about that rumored BlackBerry touchscreen device. Word from BG is that the new iPhone-ish handset is now internally dubbed the "Thunder," and will come to Verizon and Vodafone as an exclusive device. The phone will reportedly have four physical keys (send, end, menu, and back), sport a hybrid CDMA EV-DO Rev. C / GSM HSPA radio, and could come equipped with a 4G LTE component. Outside Waterloo's labs, the device could be known as the BlackBerry 9500 -- though it's possible that designation could change. BGR has included a self-made mockup (above) of what the device may look like, but as of now, no one has laid eyes on this mythical creature.

[(Unverified) Posted May 13th 2008 9:51PM]

Ridiculous statements abound here. "Touch-screens are not practical for business" is probably the most worn out, ludicrous quotes from users desperately grasping for any type of hope they can find against the iPhone.

Despite the plethora of me too products from major makers announcing or producing still born units. This particular silly "me too" product will not stem the massive wave of customers they are about to lose with iP2.

Put aside the stellar fit and finish of the iPhone hardware design for a minute. Try to wrangle your brains around the fact that iP2 has OSX as its operating system, 3D hardware support, Open GL all on a fluid UI for users to enjoy using. With unrestricted physical mechanical keys to operate the machine, and an accelerometer to take advantage of. Developers are all working feverishly to deliver apps that will just set these competitors back into the stone age. FUD all you want, dismiss all you want, but make no mistake. June is coming. Obsolete is the word that best describes these met too products.

[Ruben Posted May 13th 2008 10:35PM]

Its more than just the touch screen.

Its the replaceable battery, the upgradable memory, GPS, bluetooth pairing to your laptop for data access, the undoubtibly faster rate of typing due to a static keyboard, and just the sheer familiarity and upgradability of the Blackberry, which has made it so popular with business.

Let the iPhone win over the consumers. Blackberries will keep the business.

[(Unverified) Posted May 14th 2008 12:03AM]

@Ruben

All your points are on the verge of irrelevancy. As proven with satisfied users reports stated again and again, battery life is not an issue. Adding memory by carrying another set of memory cards to push in a slot is archaic, static keyboards on a phone is archaic. Email is nothing so special or so advantageous by RIMM that its not insurmountable by anyone who manufacturer smart-phones.

Yes BB will keep some users, but a vast majority will migrate. Something that is so fearful with the company, that they are forced to try and emulate the iPhone and its capabilities. An anemic attempt at best.

Their only hope is for the CIOs and IT management who continue their blinded disdain with anything Apple to save them.

[(Unverified) Posted May 14th 2008 4:05AM]

but i like real buttons . . .

[RileyFreeman Posted May 14th 2008 8:51AM]

now i am on telus in canada which also locks some features on their phones butthey do not touch smartphones. so i dont see why verizon would. what is there to lock anyway? gps is probably the only feature that has been disabled on a cdma smartphone and thats standard across the board. they are now all starting to enable it so i dont really understand the complaints of verizon its a smartphone so no locking.


next bgr is usually spot on. but no way is rev c true. these idiots cant even get a rev a phone out. the bold which is the same boring form factor blackberry always has is not scheduled to hit cdma until may 2009 (pretty sad if u ask me that it takes a year to switch the network insides). so no way this thing is out before the bold.

i do welcome them with open arms for FINALLYYYY trying to mix it up. the kickstart and this is definitely a step in the right direction for rim. hopefully they dont make the same dumb mistakes like apple with the no removeable battery crap

[(Unverified) Posted May 15th 2008 4:39PM]

I hope there isn't a stylus with this "touch screen" device...

[PhoenixFox Posted May 24th 2008 12:14PM]

What do people have against syluses? They're needed for handwriting recognition. If they weren't available more people would complain