Vodafone's BlackBerry Storm gets unboxed, looks smashing

Vodafone's BlackBerry Storm is way ahead of Verizon's in terms of availability, so you North Americans are going to have to suffer through the agony that is knowing Voda subscribers are delighting in this handset well before you. And now, we've even got pictures to make the wait that much more excruciating. T3 has managed to get a RIM-issued BlackBerry Storm underneath the lens for a quick unboxing, and while nothing is out of the ordinary, we definitely got that warm, tingly feeling in our chest when watching a shiny new handset meet its owner for the first time. Flip through the gallery in the read link and see if you don't feel it, too.

[Via CrackBerry]

[Ari @ Nov 5th 2008 4:36PM]

Touch Pro...Omnia...BB Storm? I cannot decide.

[Anthony @ Nov 5th 2008 4:39PM]

No kidding. 2009's gonna be the year of the touch screen for sure. Probably year of Nokia losing market dominance too.

[ILoveApple @ Nov 5th 2008 4:50PM]

Oh Anthony. I'm sure you were just joking with that comment. Considering that Nokia have double the marketshare of their next closest competitor, I don't see them crumbling in a year.

Please remember that Nokia aren't American like Motorola.

[wuzy @ Nov 5th 2008 6:39PM]

Already got my Touch HD. This thing is untouchable at least for a few years.

[Fernando @ Nov 5th 2008 7:30PM]

Like Nokia won't flood the market with all kinds of touchscreen phones (from low to ultra high range).

If consumers want touchscreens, Nokia will give them touchscreens

[iEye @ Nov 5th 2008 7:33PM]

How about none?, I would personally tell you to go with the BB, since it is made in Canada...

(I made the assumption that you allready have an iPhone)

[Saad @ Nov 7th 2008 9:48AM]

for a second there I thought you said Obama, then i realized this was not digg.

[Matthew Hilario @ Nov 5th 2008 4:38PM]

Storm with magneto assist. It's Mahvel baby!

[zingo75 @ Nov 5th 2008 4:48PM]

In the USA, will the verizon Storm be compatible with 3G (AT&T for example) in case you get it to unlock from verizon?

[PH0ENIX @ Nov 5th 2008 4:45PM]

No, Verizon is CDMA and doesn't use a SIM chip so chances of using it with AT&T or T-Mobile are zilch. You might be able to hack it to use with Cricket (maybe), but probably won't be able to use it with Sprint, the only other major CDMA carrier (now that Alltel is merging with Verizon).

[Game_playa @ Nov 5th 2008 4:49PM]

At&t(and T-mobile) use GSM. Which is different than EV-DO. So even if you unlock it, it's useless

[Simple @ Nov 5th 2008 4:50PM]

Actually, this might be possible - I believe the Storm is CDMA/GSM hybrid. Vodafone (the carrier pictured) is a GSM carrier, after all.

[Game_playa @ Nov 5th 2008 4:50PM]

I meant CDMA sorry...

[tande @ Nov 5th 2008 4:57PM]

The storm is a world for but the GSM isn't compatable with US GSM for that exact reason.

[Christopher @ Nov 5th 2008 4:59PM]

Actually, the Storm is a dual-mode wireless device as it supports both CDMA and GSM. The hitch is that the 3G part of the GSM transceiver supports only 2100Mhz, which is a non-North America frequency. You could theoretically unlock it and use it with AT&T or T-Mobile in the States, but you'd be limited to 2.5G (GPRS/EDGE) speeds at best.

[zingo75 @ Nov 5th 2008 5:04PM]

Thank you Christopher.
Phoenix, you are wrong since this phone is a Hybrid

[tande @ Nov 5th 2008 5:43PM]

Not sure why I'm bothering to point it out but...

You're initial question is messed up.

The Storm is 3G regardless of it being able to be used with AT&T. Just because AT&T and apple have done a better job then the others about advertising "3G" doesn't mean their the only game.

[lee @ Nov 5th 2008 4:46PM]

and the end of Western Civilization draws ever closer, thanks RIM

[a ham sandwich @ Nov 5th 2008 5:31PM]

i disagree! have you been in a cave for the last 24 hours?!?!

[Phoenix @ Nov 5th 2008 4:46PM]

I get pissed at the UK adverts for the storm that say it was "Designed for vodafone"

WHAT? what about the American version(s)?

[TheNewGuy @ Nov 5th 2008 5:33PM]

That's because the US and Canadian verisions are going to be CDMA and the UK version is the ONLY GSM version they will be selling. Hence "Designed for Vodafone". Marketing at it's best!

[Phoenix @ Nov 5th 2008 5:36PM]

Then it's more like "altered for Vodafone"

[Samboini @ Nov 5th 2008 5:37PM]

I think Vodafone are impying us Brits are so thick we don't know what exists beyond the realms of our kingdom. Shame on them.

[Keith @ Nov 5th 2008 4:52PM]

So, as someone who is used to typing on a good old computer QWERTY keyboard, I'd like to know how typing on the Storm feels. Any lag? Misinputs? How durable is the thing?

[holycow @ Nov 5th 2008 4:51PM]

It's so beautiful, I would do anything to get my hands on it!

[holycow @ Nov 5th 2008 4:51PM]

Oh and That's what she said!

[Imran @ Nov 5th 2008 5:27PM]

She's also into gadgets? Lucky you.

[ILoveApple @ Nov 5th 2008 4:58PM]

Like most people in the UK, I don't follow BlackBerry news because of their poor sales here and because of their lackluster feature lists. Would someone be kind enough to explain *exactly* what is so special about this device apart from it being the first touchscreen BB? It's quite honestly grotesque.

[Imran @ Nov 5th 2008 5:35PM]

Well it's a touch screen BB, you answered your own question, kind of.

[forreal @ Nov 6th 2008 2:32PM]

I agree. It is so freaking ugly. This is so funny because RIM said touch technology is a joke when the iphone came out...Its a nice try,but realllllllllly ugly!

[Christopher @ Nov 5th 2008 5:04PM]

If this is the Vodaphone version, why does it have a VZ Navigator icon (see the 9th and 10th images)? VZ Navigator is a Verizon Wireless application.

[Ari @ Nov 5th 2008 5:46PM]

someone also pointed out on Engadget Mobile that it says 1xEV on the top. Vodafone runs on GSM, doesn't it?

[Corey O @ Nov 5th 2008 5:30PM]

The jealousy is overwhelming me to the point that I am crazy with envy!

http://www.worldgonemobile.com

[TheNewGuy @ Nov 5th 2008 5:37PM]

Good eye man!

[TheNewGuy @ Nov 5th 2008 5:37PM]

Good eye man

[TheNewGuy @ Nov 5th 2008 5:38PM]

The Good eye comment was for CHRISTOPHER

[apetruck @ Nov 5th 2008 5:45PM]

bummer, this would be the killer device....if it only had Wi-Fi.

[TheNewGuy @ Nov 5th 2008 5:50PM]

So is that 100% confirmed?? Because one of my buddies who works for RIM said he used one the other day and it had Wifi.

So many conflicting pieces of information!!

[TheNewGuy @ Nov 5th 2008 5:51PM]

Sorry, keep in mind he was using a test phone.

[apetruck @ Nov 5th 2008 6:06PM]

unfortunately yes. why the hell did they not include Wi-Fi on a '08-'09 smartphone!?!? if verizon's 3G takes a dump on me where do i get my internets?

[Vineet Madan @ Nov 5th 2008 6:32PM]

I was thinking about this but if they've get the interminably long RIM-special menus I think navigating them with a touchscreen would be horrific! I had hoped for an OS upgrade with touch-specific UI but it looks like they've just slapped a touch interface on the standard shobby BB OS. Wow, what a disappointment.

[d.pelkey @ Nov 5th 2008 6:49PM]

Look at the bottom of picture 9, it says VZ navigator... this is a CDMA Storm this is no GSM Vodaphone Storm!!! Shenanigans!!!

[DJDevine @ Nov 5th 2008 6:39PM]

Look at the bottom of picture 9, it says VZ navigator... this is a CDMA Storm this is no GSM Vodaphone Storm!!! Shenanigans!!!

[kanwar @ Nov 5th 2008 7:06PM]

Why does it say 1xEV instead of 3G if it's the GSM-only version?

[kanwar @ Nov 5th 2008 7:09PM]

I just noticed the VZ Navigator thing too.

This is odd, T3 is a pretty reputable mainstream magazine in the UK.

[Justin @ Nov 5th 2008 10:51PM]

Holla!

[john @ Nov 5th 2008 10:55PM]

first of all chances of verizon's 3g shitting out on any one are slim to none. why dont it have wi-fi? its called marketing data packages and pushing mobile broadband(wi-fi is not mobile broadband because you are stuck tethered at home or starbucks) two verizon whether u like it or not has the largest coverage of any carrier and sense them and alltel are going to play nice in the sandbox soon 3g will be reachable to anyone anywhere so were is the need for wi-fi? and for the brit who says this phone is ugly he's just a pissed off apple customer who don't want to admit he jumped the gun on buying the second sweetest phone(iphone 3g).

[TheNewGuy @ Nov 6th 2008 1:52AM]

What about us Canadians??
We don't have any Unlimited data plans here.... And the plans that are available suck ass!

[Zak @ Nov 6th 2008 12:30AM]

NO WIFI? WTF? BAD MOVE 3G is fast! but I am always around a WIFI network being a computer consultant. Not to mention, that means I have to get unlimited data plan that they will most likely charge and arm and a leg for when it comes out. BAD MOVE! The only alternative is a wifi sd card? maybe? I was hoping this would replace my blackjack 1 that I have had for four years.... Man! back to waiting.... I just can't completely fall in love with the iPhone, it is not business oriented enough for me. COME ON RIM GIVE US WIFI!!!

[Kathryn @ Nov 6th 2008 5:22PM]

If you're a computer consultant simply tether the blackberry to your laptop (or desktop) as an external modem. You don't need wifi with the blackberry. I have the blackberry data plan (wow-8 years now) and I've never had an issue either browsing with their web portal-or connecting to my laptop (which also recharges the phone). The 3G system (I think) will simply be the icing on the cake