Verizon training schedule hints at BlackBerry Storm / Touch Diamond release dates

Let's do a quick recap, shall we? So we pretty much know everything there is to know about Verizon's forthcoming BlackBerry Storm save for the price and release date, and so far as we can tell, Verizon's version of the Touch Diamond is still expected to be totally underpowered compared to Sprint's iteration. Now that we've rounded the tables, let's have a look at this image above. This here is Verizon's internal training schedule, and given that employees have to complete their Storm courses before November 2nd and their Touch Diamond courses before December 3rd, we'd say you now have a pretty good idea of when these two will be landing. Hey VZW -- think you could make that "Blocking Features Assessment" available to the public? We're guessing it'd be a real hit.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

[Bob @ Sep 26th 2008 12:33PM]

So we will likely see the device in the first two weeks of November.

[bob sakamano @ Sep 26th 2008 12:41PM]

identify yourself, bobby

[Nate @ Sep 26th 2008 5:58PM]

Verizon rep told me one week ago that the phone would be released Nov 1 (or first week of Nov).

[conor @ Sep 26th 2008 12:35PM]

whats that blacked out section? VZW is hiding something.

[Othello @ Sep 26th 2008 2:24PM]

It's a separator thing.

[Bob @ Sep 26th 2008 12:36PM]

I can't wait for this to come out. I hope Verizon is able to stock a lot at launch. I'd hate to see one of those iPhone-like launches where they run out fast & have troubles getting devices to the stores for weeks.

[Bob @ Sep 26th 2008 12:42PM]

Sales are dependant on inventory & shipments but there must be a typical time frame between the completion of training and start of sales. Anyone know how long new device sales for Verizon typically lag behind the completion of training? Does Verizon wait days, a week or 2 weeks after training to start selling?

[Jake @ Sep 26th 2008 1:15PM]

That would be a good question to ask at Howard Forums (lotsa employees over there).

[Jash Sayani @ Sep 26th 2008 12:52PM]

Nice. Will be there before Christmas!

[Eddie @ Sep 26th 2008 12:55PM]

The Storms decides if I stay on verizon or if I make a hop to Tmobile for a while to play around with the G1 hehe.

[mphayvanh @ Sep 26th 2008 1:31PM]

The Storm was an option for me too being a VZW customer but I jumped the gun and got the Touch Pro with T-Mobile (unlocked). The unlocked version is better than Sprint's minus the 3G of course. Edge is still good so I'm waiting for 3G developments from the experts at XDA. The cool thing about T-Mo is that I can switch the sim card between my Pro and G1. Best of both worlds and a cheap data plan compared to Verizon.

[dcar85 @ Sep 26th 2008 1:50PM]

If Verizon doesn't stop neutering their phones, I'm bailing as soon as I can.

[[e-mail] @ Sep 26th 2008 2:02PM]

Verizon normally doesn't neuter Blackberries & we have no reason to think this Blackberry will be any different. Only time will tell.

[Mario @ Sep 30th 2008 2:03PM]

@azconsulting: What? Tell that to my 8830, Verizon deliberately disabled the GPS to get me to pay for theri VZnavigator. I can't stand that behavior.

[Gamer90 @ Sep 26th 2008 2:06PM]

"Blocking Features Assessment"? WTF? Anyone care to chime in on that?

[Drewkkake @ Sep 26th 2008 2:56PM]

You can block certain features on specific telephone numbers, so, for example, you can prevent something like Mobile TV (which is like $15/mo.) from being purchased on a kid's phone.

This can be done online in the account settings, but my guess is that Verizon doesn't do a great job explaining that to most of its customers. Maybe it has something to do with that?

[Marvin @ Sep 26th 2008 2:44PM]

'Blocking Features Assessment':

Evaluate and assess how many customers were lost due to features blocked in their phones. Its a fun trip. Everyone brings cookies and cake. They watch teh wonderful graph of lost customers due to blocked features.

I dont know.

[theguy @ Sep 26th 2008 3:56PM]

They are talking about parents blocking certain things on their kid's phones not features that the phone should come with. like if you catch your kid sending nasty pictures then you can block picture messaging

[ByronGman @ Sep 26th 2008 6:07PM]

I believe you can do data block too...

For example, if you want to just use WiFi and make sure you never accidentally stumble into Verizon Dataland...

[Jason @ Sep 26th 2008 2:46PM]

I hope nobody buys the crippled and underpowered Diamond.

Fuck you VZW.

[Ryan @ Sep 26th 2008 3:00PM]

What I dont understand is if the Palm Treo 800w CDMA is supposed to come out on Oct. 12, (For Verizon) how come we never saw one of these sheets for that phone? No training sheets or anything? ....weird.

[HalfJoey @ Sep 26th 2008 4:02PM]

HTC Touch Pro Please. I'm still not sure about their dumb'd down version though.

[jazz1 @ Sep 26th 2008 5:23PM]

Of course Verizon blocks features on BB's. the 8830 has native GPS, but we get to buy VZ navigator. I'm not sure if it has Wifi, but if it did I'm sure they'd block that. How can anyone say VZ doesn't normally block features. Are you kidding?

[Kris @ Sep 26th 2008 8:14PM]

I think it's safe to say the blocking features item is in regards to line items that can be added to accounts to block text messaging, premium messages, app downloads, vcast, and the such.

[Matt @ Sep 27th 2008 3:49PM]

I think the more interesting thing on that list is the "Vault". I bet it's like backup assistant but for blackberries or smartphones.

[steve @ Oct 28th 2008 12:14PM]

i am so sick of how far verizon pushes back the release date of the PDA phones. It looks like Sprint will have had the Touch a full 4 months ahead of Verizon. I have been elegible for a new phone now for months waiting for the Touch or Touch pro (Raphael) but Verizon just doesnt give a shit theyre even cutting the balls of this version to save money.

A5sholes