Verizon locks in BlackBerry Storm launch for November 24 at $199.99?

Murphy's Law dictated from the very beginning that Verizon's claim of a November launch for the Storm meant late November (at best), and indeed, it now looks like that's where we're headed. Boy Genius Report has picked up some juicy documentation that seems to suggest that November 24 is the zero day with a $199.99 retail price after rebate; what's more, stores will be opening an hour early to accomodate the throngs of rabid, frothing-at-the-mouth businessmen and businesswomen in Zegna suits looking for their latest BlackBerry fix. It looks like there'll also be a "pre-launch" on the 20th, meaning customers Verizon really cares about -- not us, by any stretch of the imagination -- will have a chance stroll into one of 123 extra-special corporate stores to tool around with a demo unit and place their order in person. Either way, stores are expected to have tons of units available for sale on the 24th, so don't show up at 8pm the night before. Unless you're into that sort of thing.

[KAIKAI @ Nov 11th 2008 7:54PM]

yay11!!!!!111
FINALLY :D

[Joshua S. @ Nov 11th 2008 8:02PM]

I still don't really see the attraction of a phone designed for "business" that lacks a QWERTY pad... but that just goes to show how the iphone (as much as I hate the damn thing) has changed the name of the game.

[Smoothcrm7 @ Nov 11th 2008 8:06PM]

This isnt geared towards companies alone. They have just released the bold and soon will release the javelin which both feature full keyboards. So they are definetly not forgetting about that.

[2she @ Nov 11th 2008 8:13PM]

It doesn't "lack" a qwerty pad - sureclick, remember?

Don't knock it 'till you try it kind Sir.

[lazy @ Nov 11th 2008 8:18PM]

it does have qwerty keyboard and a suretype keyboard

[Joshua S. @ Nov 11th 2008 8:21PM]

There's a big difference between a QWERTY pad and a "virtual" QWERTY pad

[haX0r @ Nov 11th 2008 8:27PM]

There is a difference in the QWERTYs. I have had the opportunity to try this phone and I can say that it is pretty fast typing with sureclick. Give it a try and you will see for yourself.

[gad get @ Nov 11th 2008 8:29PM]

Which is precisely why they went to the trouble of giving you tactile feedback. If the iPhone changed the name of the game, then so will this. I mean, the iPhone wasn't the first phone with a touchscreen, you know; it just gave it a new spin. Well, now it's happening again.

[tom @ Nov 11th 2008 8:34PM]

Dear Joshua S

That's why RIM has created Blackberry Bold and Javelin with QWERTY keyboard for "business" minded people like you. Now will you shut up? Touchscreen based smartphones without a keyboard has its market as you can see from Apple iPhone's popularity

[Michael Scrip @ Nov 11th 2008 11:49PM]

Here's another way to think about it...

The keys on a Blackberry Curve are tiny. My thumb covers 3 keys on a Curve.

The "virtual" keys on the Storm are huge by comparison. Even stubby thumbs should have no problem hitting the big square keys on the Storm. The landscape layout of the Storm will feel less cramped than the keys on a Curve.

Oh, and RIM makes many models of Blackberries to please everyone!

[Ryan C @ Nov 11th 2008 8:07PM]

4-2GB cards as in four 2GB cards, or cards from 2GB to 4GB?
It's worded pretty bad in the memo.

[urmomFTW @ Nov 11th 2008 8:36PM]

these aren't the cards u are thinking of.

these cards are loaded with demo videos, etc to be used in storms on the floor for unit demonstration.

[iEye @ Nov 11th 2008 8:12PM]

Seriously what is going on with these so called "events"

The release of the RAZR started this trend because it was a phone given to celebrities... fair enough

Then the iPhone made this an event because it is so revolutionary and not even a celebrity could get one in advance (Thanks Apple for treating everyone like eaquals)

But now every SHITE! phone seems to have an "event".. ooh Virgin Mobile is releasing the "Slice 3" on prepaid for $29 at 8am sharp! be part of the event....

well I say Bollocks to this!

[gad get @ Nov 11th 2008 8:30PM]

You're a very popular guy around here, you know that?

[a ham sandwich @ Nov 11th 2008 8:54PM]

@gad get

comment of the night! +1 :)

[OCEAN 'CLAK' 20th @ Nov 11th 2008 11:39PM]

@ gad get agreed the iphone should be the only event that should takes place

[Hammer @ Nov 11th 2008 8:26PM]

It is more likely $399.. Storm = Bold +$100! The unlocked price is probably be $759 based on current selling price of Bold.

[Ryan C @ Nov 11th 2008 8:32PM]

Verizon's probably subsidizing this one like AT&T did with the iPhone. The Storm most likely has a higher retail price than the Bold, but Verizon wants this phone to appeal to a larger crowd. If AT&T kept the iPhone at $299/$399, Verizon would probably put the Storm around $250.

[2she @ Nov 11th 2008 8:33PM]

In a contest for dumb comments, this one here might just take the cake

[Hammer @ Nov 11th 2008 9:25PM]

Just because ATT keeps the price down for iPhone doesn't mean Verizon would do the same. In fact, Verizon's executives have said publicly that they aren't interested in price war. Look at the current selling price of Blackberry Bold.

As for the dumb comments, the real dumb people are the ones reading too much about baseless speculations. These are
the same people who said Blackberry Bold would be selling for a lot less. Go check the current price selling price of Blackberry Bold and tell me who is making dumb comments!

[johann @ Nov 11th 2008 8:32PM]

i'm buying it.

[iEye @ Nov 11th 2008 11:16PM]

Low ranked just for saying that?

tough crowd!

[Paul @ Nov 11th 2008 8:34PM]

It is a shame Verizon is also trying to compete with Apple on who can have more control over their devices. Want to use GPS navigation... your using VZNavigator, your going to pay Verizon $10/month, and your going to like it.

[john @ Nov 11th 2008 10:08PM]

to bad the gps on the storm is unlocked and it comes with blackberry maps and vz navigator huh your comment just got shat on!

[Chris @ Nov 11th 2008 8:39PM]

$199 with ne2? Or $199 for anyone?

[a ham sandwich @ Nov 11th 2008 8:54PM]

anyzero :)

[Tim @ Nov 11th 2008 8:55PM]

Ok, now what about the xv6850 (HTC Touch Pro)?

[joe @ Nov 11th 2008 9:11PM]

The Devil is in the UI. I'm ready to jump on it, but given my experience with the Samsun i730 and the Treo 700P, it's the nuances that are going to make me love or hate it. Will the processor be sufficiently powerful? Will the screen react quickly to typing? Can you set the screen to 'disable during call' to avoid cheek-dialing? Is the Bluetooth connection reliable? Can I quickly set it to vibrate? Can I avoid answering when I'm pulling it out of my pocket?

I'm ready to buy yesterday, but I keep getting my heart broken by sexy promises. Will this be it, finally?

[Jeff @ Nov 12th 2008 1:30AM]

My feelings exactly. I'm really curious though to see if these phones will be in existing Alltel stores now that the mergers has been approved and such. That would be super cool. With a phone this big, that could make a big impact in plan switching.

[HEY RJ @ Nov 11th 2008 9:17PM]

Goodbye Mr.G1

Hello Mrs.Storm

Might as well jump ship being that I get 40% off at Verizon

anyone want a G1 lol

[kevin @ Nov 11th 2008 9:25PM]

Please?

[HEY RJ @ Nov 11th 2008 9:49PM]

Sure you just have to give me your soul and 340 dollars

[Nate @ Nov 11th 2008 9:53PM]

iPhone is gonna need it some Obama after this thing hits.

[Virtuous @ Nov 11th 2008 9:53PM]

Verizon, like the rest of the industry, has a serious case of iPhone envy.

[iEye @ Nov 11th 2008 11:55PM]

CDMA phones are SHITE! to begin with... they never stood a chance...

[Upset with no WOW @ Nov 11th 2008 10:12PM]

WOW is STILL DOWN :( UGH!!!!! Why isnt there a story about this!!!! over 14 hour down... 10 million mad!!

[Hamdude @ Nov 11th 2008 10:14PM]

I don't know why nobody has asked about this:

What about all this pre-ordering going on at Best Buy Mobile?!
I have an activation scheduled for 10:30 am THIS SUNDAY!
I work at Best Buy, and our RSS street date shows this Sunday, Nov. 16!

What's goin on?!

[d tang @ Nov 12th 2008 5:56PM]

check your ticket again... it says that the date is tentative and that you will need to call your best buy to confirm the new date. Don't show up on the 16th you'll be disappointed.

[[e-mail] @ Nov 11th 2008 10:26PM]

yeah.......... No thanks, I'll stick with my iPhone. It is gonna take a lot more than a gimmicky click touch screen to get me to go back to verizon. Maybe if they start selling the iPhone I will consider going back. Hands down Apple makes the best products on the market. From the look and feel of the devices to the UI and the complete integration of the software, they bring a lot to the table that is hard to beat.

[nick @ Nov 11th 2008 10:32PM]

i want the veriphone. not the verim. :(

[Matt @ Nov 11th 2008 10:33PM]

I have the iPhone 3G , as much as I like it, it does not play well with files from work,email account and At&T has crappy service, I keep getting calls dropped all the time inside of buildings.

This is the phone I wish I bought.
I will break my contract with AT&T and pay the fine. I hope to sell the iPhone on ebay (it will be unlocked after I break my contract) to recover the early termination fee and a little extra.

[Bob @ Nov 11th 2008 11:38PM]

That is the same reason I am dumping my iPhone. I like the GUI, the App store and the media capabilities. But I need a solid communication device first and foremost. The iPhone doesn't cut it for me. I will be happy if this Blackberry will give me great communication tools and maybe some passable media capabilities. The iPhone is great, but it doesn't cut it for my mobile business needs.

[Wolfeman @ Nov 11th 2008 10:39PM]

I can't wait! I'll be there an hour before they open wearing a Darth Vader costume...

[Dan @ Nov 11th 2008 11:04PM]

So, Verizon is saying that if you buy this phone, then you have to pay the raised data rates?

[Roosevelt Franklin @ Nov 11th 2008 11:10PM]

Now this is a quandary. My Verizon contract expires Dec. 2nd, and I was planning on switching to AT&T for an iPhone. I'm definitely interested in playing with this, but I have a feeling the iPhone apps and iTunes integration are gonna win me over in the end.

[matthew @ Nov 11th 2008 11:17PM]

Wuts with the 2-4gb cards memory cards ? i thought the phone came witha 8GB micro sd ?

[HEY RJ @ Nov 11th 2008 11:21PM]

This is for the vendors that get the phone, the cards come preloaded with all that showcase good stuff. Pictures, Videos, etc....

The phone itself will come with the 8gb

[matthew @ Nov 11th 2008 11:50PM]

so those are for the vendors to show off like vids and crap ?

[HEY RJ @ Nov 12th 2008 12:23AM]

Correct

[glegos27 @ Nov 11th 2008 11:20PM]

Hurray! (sarcastically)
Another iCompetetor
Can't RIM just cut it's losses already?