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]
[Via CrackBerry]























Touch Pro...Omnia...BB Storm? I cannot decide.
No kidding. 2009's gonna be the year of the touch screen for sure. Probably year of Nokia losing market dominance too.
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.
Already got my Touch HD. This thing is untouchable at least for a few years.
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
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)
for a second there I thought you said Obama, then i realized this was not digg.
Storm with magneto assist. It's Mahvel baby!
In the USA, will the verizon Storm be compatible with 3G (AT&T for example) in case you get it to unlock from verizon?
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).
At&t(and T-mobile) use GSM. Which is different than EV-DO. So even if you unlock it, it's useless
Actually, this might be possible - I believe the Storm is CDMA/GSM hybrid. Vodafone (the carrier pictured) is a GSM carrier, after all.
I meant CDMA sorry...
The storm is a world for but the GSM isn't compatable with US GSM for that exact reason.
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.
Thank you Christopher.
Phoenix, you are wrong since this phone is a Hybrid
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.
and the end of Western Civilization draws ever closer, thanks RIM
i disagree! have you been in a cave for the last 24 hours?!?!
I get pissed at the UK adverts for the storm that say it was "Designed for vodafone"
WHAT? what about the American version(s)?
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!
Then it's more like "altered for Vodafone"
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.
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?
It's so beautiful, I would do anything to get my hands on it!
Oh and That's what she said!
She's also into gadgets? Lucky you.
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.
Well it's a touch screen BB, you answered your own question, kind of.
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!
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.
someone also pointed out on Engadget Mobile that it says 1xEV on the top. Vodafone runs on GSM, doesn't it?
The jealousy is overwhelming me to the point that I am crazy with envy!
http://www.worldgonemobile.com
Good eye man!
Good eye man
The Good eye comment was for CHRISTOPHER
bummer, this would be the killer device....if it only had Wi-Fi.
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!!
Sorry, keep in mind he was using a test phone.
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?
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.
Look at the bottom of picture 9, it says VZ navigator... this is a CDMA Storm this is no GSM Vodaphone Storm!!! Shenanigans!!!
Look at the bottom of picture 9, it says VZ navigator... this is a CDMA Storm this is no GSM Vodaphone Storm!!! Shenanigans!!!
Why does it say 1xEV instead of 3G if it's the GSM-only version?
I just noticed the VZ Navigator thing too.
This is odd, T3 is a pretty reputable mainstream magazine in the UK.
Holla!
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).
What about us Canadians??
We don't have any Unlimited data plans here.... And the plans that are available suck ass!
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!!!
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