BlackBerry Storm bows, comes next month to Verizon and Vodafone

A storm's arrival typically isn't something to celebrate, but we're going to make a notable exception here seeing how the BlackBerry Storm is less of a destructive weather pattern and more of an incredibly hot smartphone -- arguably RIM's hottest to date. Fit to its business-savvy roots, the long-rumored handset comes equipped with the most comprehensive global roaming capabilities of virtually any wireless device you'll find anywhere, featuring EV-DO Rev. A, quadband EDGE, and 2100MHz HSPA for Europe. Beyond that, the Storm becomes RIM's very first touchscreen phone, mounting a 3.26-inch 480 x 360 glass display on a unique clickable surface so that the entire thing can be pressed downwards -- just like a real button -- for tactile feedback when making selections. It includes a full HTML finger-navigable browser, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint editing capabilities, Bluetooth 2.0, 1GB of on-board storage with an 8GB microSD card bundled in the box, 3.5mm headphone jack, automatic orientation and ambient lighting sensors, and a 3.2-megapixel autofocus cam with dedicated flash, making it a legitimate jack-of-all-trades that seems likely to be able to handle even the most chaotic personal and professional lives users can throw its way. It'll allegedly do 15 days of standby or 5.5 hours of talk time on either GSM or CDMA networks. No word on pricing yet -- we're told all will be revealed "in the coming weeks" -- but it'll launch on both Verizon and Vodafone in November.

Gallery: BlackBerry Storm bows, comes next month to Verizon and Vodafone

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[Skemo @ Oct 8th 2008 12:10AM]

I'm interested to see, or rather feel, the phone's attempt at tactile feedback. Contrary to popular belief, the tangible feedback of "pressing" a button is not obsolete.

[karmaghost @ Oct 8th 2008 12:28AM]

If it's anything like some of the other touchscreen phones I've seen, the phone just vibrates when you touch the screen. Apples attempt at feedback is simply just that loud "click" you hear, but it isn't the same. I'm not sold on the vibration thing, either, though.

[Andrew @ Oct 8th 2008 12:10AM]

wow cool

[Sofunnytom @ Oct 8th 2008 12:13AM]

finally they announce it! i've been seeing ads everywhere!

[karmaghost @ Oct 8th 2008 12:27AM]

Wow. I have an iPhone and I have to say, that Blackberry looks pretty sleek and sexy. Competition is a great thing.

[Jason @ Oct 8th 2008 12:36AM]

I enjoyed the little snippet of the new Killers single that played in one of their commercials for this.

[Brent @ Oct 8th 2008 12:41AM]

I'm pretty sure the headline is meant to be "Blackberry Storm Blows," although I don't think it was ever meant to be a bad thing; simply a play on words. Lesson: When attempting a play on words, don't fuck up, it ruins the whole thing and makes you look bad.

[adam @ Oct 8th 2008 10:28AM]

it's about damn time.. I have been waiting for details on this for weeks, feels like months. I really just want to know a price! Please just make it $199 and make me happy.

[adam @ Oct 8th 2008 12:46AM]

I dont know how i feel about this whole thing.

the engadget post reads like a press release. could they be any more praising of it without actually using it. and im sure the overall product will be pretty, if not awesome for the most part, but the lack of wifi really sucks. in many ways.

as for the touch-mechanism of the touch screen. i'm really excited and hope it's awesome, but at the same time, i'm a little worried, and wonder if it's really worth the added effort/if it might just get annoying.

to be seen, i guess.

[Ysleiro @ Oct 8th 2008 10:43AM]

Hey guys. I have been wondering. Is it true that T-mobile's 3G does 7.(something) mbps? doesn't that make it like 3 times faster than Verizon?

I thought verizon had the fastest 3G.

[ak @ Oct 8th 2008 2:12AM]

first of all, T-Mobile has 3G coverage in less than 10 markets (should be more by year end), with Verizon & Sprint up around 330-350 i believe with all domestic roaming agreements considered. So even if the speed thing was true, if it isnt available in your market, it doesnt mean squat! AT&T was supposedly at around 300 markets this summer and I saw posts stating they expected to turn on the rest to hit 350 by the end of 2008 (fierce wireless or rcr wireless should have the exact counts and/or press releases if you're really curious).

the speed capabilities you're referring to are for the 3G HSPA network that T-Mobile would eventually like to build out (AT&T already has the rollout complete across their entire 3G network). however, keep in mind that you'd probably never received sustained speeds over a cellular based wireless system like that... those #'s are probably more in line with a guy in a lab coat under the cell tower (speed is a function of tower load, spectrum availability & deployment in the area, your signal strength and hardware, etc). Verizon will eventually be slowly switching to this type of network in the 2010 and on time frame (it's what the rest of the world uses). We'll see how Sprint's wi-max gamble pays off.

anywho, as with anything wireless, all that matters is what works well where you live and work + is within your budget ;)

[Ratnesh Mehra @ Oct 8th 2008 1:21AM]

I'd be on board to try this out if Verizon got any service at my house. Unfortunately it's zero bars, while AT&T and T-Mobile have full signal.

oh well.

[Elisha Adeagbo @ Oct 8th 2008 1:50AM]

"wow" is all i can say

[Ellianth @ Oct 8th 2008 2:54AM]

Wow, i used to think this thing was ugly. But wow!

I love their icons!!

[Bill @ Oct 8th 2008 6:35AM]

Nice...if this thing can do Rhapsody, and turn-by-turn GPS navigation, I'll snag one! Really a sharp looking phone

[The_WB @ Oct 8th 2008 7:44AM]

Nice phone with iPhone features, but I fear VZW is going to charge way too much for this unit, and this is on top of their pricey data plans. I don't anticipate any deal's coming on this phone until the next generation is out in the marketplace. I hope I am wrong!

[greg @ Oct 8th 2008 8:22AM]

No Wi-Fi? In 2008?

[Jason @ Oct 8th 2008 8:56AM]

Wonder how bad VZW crippled it.

[DannyBoyUK @ Oct 8th 2008 9:09AM]

No Wi-Fi, no proper turn-by-turn GPS, and no Flash!

[Whingnut @ Oct 8th 2008 9:29AM]

All that just killed it for me. Perhaps by the time my contract is up, they'll be on other carriers and have implemented those features.

[Jake @ Oct 8th 2008 9:19AM]

Mobius, here is a size comparison of the Dare, Storm, Curve, and iPhone
http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/17364-Apple-iPhone-vs-iPhone-3G-vs-Blackberry-Storm-1-vs-Blackberry-Curve-vs-LG-Dare

[Jon Graft @ Oct 8th 2008 10:58AM]

They didn't give out an estimated price with contract yet, did they?

[dep @ Oct 8th 2008 11:29AM]

How can they not be putting Wifi in to devices like these!? serious wtf.