BlackBerry Storm now available on Verizon
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Nov 21st 2008 4:11AM
posted Nov 21st 2008 4:11AM
[Thanks, JR]
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Oooooh I've read it alright.
OH ENGADGET!
I just ordered mine. ;) I went for only the one year contract. It's only $30 more and I feel better not being locked down for 2 years.
I know it has it's flaws but this is the best thing I'm going to get to an iPhone clone on Verizon.
@Pip
$30 more for one year less contract. If only we had that in Canada =(. All the carriers charges at least $100 more just to have one year less on your contract. Plus there are price plan contract.
$30? where? I'd much rather do a 1 year for $30 more.
I'm seeing a $70 difference on the website...2 year $269 vs 1 year $199 after rebate??
dude with "informative read" it comes with a 8GB micro SD so it's total storage would be 9 GB. i refused to read the rest of the article due to this ignorant error
I got to the Verizon Wireless Store at 6am in Sherman Oaks, CA. There were plenty of store employees there waiting. I was #20 in line.
They started letting people in at 7am. At 8:15 they proudly announced that they no longer had any units in the store, but that they would overnight one to us!
What I can't believe is that they would 1) have us all wait around 2 hours when they knew that they had less than twenty units (there were 100 people in line) and 2) that they would have so few units in the store on a release date!
REALLY STUPID!
No apologies.
"WORD TO THE G!"
http://www.t-mobileg1.com/
In our area the Verizon (Preferred retailers) are pricing the stormat 389.99...Then with all the discounts as an upgraded customer they ask you to pay 289.99. After you mess more then they give you a $100 discount for getting a data package...that you already have to have, leaving you with a 189.99 befreo rebate.They also have ignored that you have signed up for a storm. I was in the store when they sold a storm to a new customer while I was waiting for mine and I was the first person that they signed up.Then had the nerve to say that I could not get the other one because they had another new customer who had called about one and they were going ot sell it to him. ....When asked they said that Verizon wanted the storms for new customers (lines) rather than upgrades because they would make more money on them....shame on Verizon or that is what was being said by the District Manager......
Is it just me or has the Blackberry Data/Email price shot up 25 bucks?
Different carriers have different prices.
I know T-mo has the standard BB data package for $20 and Verizon for $30.
It's been $30 on Verizon as long as I can remember.
Maybe it was just me but it seemed like Engadget bashed the damn phone to kingdom come.
I mean I read the Boy Genius Report on it and nobody pumeled it as bad as engadget did.
At one point the guy even mentions that casual users won't like it, then mentions that power users will be also turned off. And as a result the phone just sucks.
What I don't get is what the hell are casual people doing using a Black Berry but even worst what I really don't get is what a BB power user is doing trying to use the Storm as if it could honestly replace a standard BB.
"The keyboard sucks, the learning curve will make casual users vomit, it's not fast enough for power users".
Gee what about the in between crowd?
Engadget made valid points - RIM have left out their biggest competitive advantage (a physical keyboard), and the replacement doesn't help or target any Market specifically. Casual users are more likely to go for the iPhone (let's be honest), and RIM have effectively alienated their loyal customer base with the badly done touch. The middle-Market is small. Play to your strengths, RIM!
This is just bad decision making by RIM. They tried to go after the casual Market with a touchscreen (bad logic by itself), and attack an Apple posting record sales and profits. They left the customers they need most in times of harsh competition to the side. It'll come back to bite them.
I agree that if the phone fails then the implementation was a mistake.
But I can not agree with you on RIM making a mistake in going after more casual users. Heck, they have been doing so already even if that wasn't the intention. I know so many people with Pearls and Curves and over 80% of them don't even know the potential the phone has. (The flip should garner them some casual users too).
I also can't agree that RIM is leaving their core fanbase/users out in the cold. The Bold is here and pretty soon the Javelin will be too. Had AT&T actually dropped the Bold at the right time, instead of lolly gagging around, the release schedule would have made more sense and more properly spaced out.
Always interesting to see that there are high profile marketing people around at Engadget who know exactly what direction a company should go from the basement of their parents home...
Though RIM might lack the huge marketing department Apple has, something tells me they probaly thought over their move and produced the Storm. As RIM is a vast reacting company they keep producing new mobiles and even while this might be a "poor" mobile it atleast features up to date hardware with a bulletproof OS. So slowish maybe, but atleast the crashing part is unlikely which to me is rather valuable. Combine this with some good security system, a good to maintain platform, proper push mail (which doesnt loose mails/apppointments) and you get a neat mobile. Maybe not as slick as other competitors but for a first try far from poor.
Walt Mossberg had better things to say about it than Engadget. Thats pretty harsh.
The sad thing is that Macworld, an APPLE review site, had a better review of the BlackBerry Storm than you did.
By you, I meant Engadget.
At least RIM makes MANY different models... most with keyboards, one without. I hope everyone plays with the Storm before they buy it. If they don't like it, there's still a Bold, Curve, Pearl, Pearl Flip, 8800, etc.
Want an iPhone with a QWERTY keyboard? Tough luck.
Yeah I read the review and the part that struck me most was when they pointed out that the UI was based on old BlackBerry software. As an HTC Touch owner, I know how painful it is when your old last-gen OS (WM6) gets shoehorned into a touch UI. Maybe at $149 but definitely not at $199.
I'm not here to defend the phone because I have never used it.
But what I do know is that their choice of words for the entire article seemed negative. It's subtle, you have to really pay attention.
But there are different ways to state things and get the same message across.
For example the reviewer could have said that maybe RIM wanted to please it's core crowd by keeping the phone's functionality and foundation basically the same.
I do agree that if what they say is true then RIM better be working on some changes. At the same time I would like to see RIM implement a familiar look even if they decide to heavily modify the UI. There is a motif to BB and that basic idea and concept should never stray too far, lest the phone seize to be a BB.
@TonicBoy
You are just being naive. You can't based on purchasing decision on reviews, go try it yourself and decide if it right for you. Plus, using older O/S can reduce performance/bug issues, why fix when it ain't broken.
HTC Touch with WM6 sucks, my buddy's Touch crashed like hell. It is not even worth anything.
If the same review was written about the iPhone, you would have nothing to say. The iPhone is better than the Storm by a long shot. The BBerry fanboys will say it is the better, while they quietly use their Bold. If you don't believe me, let's check out the sales numbers after Christmas. Techno-geeks and the casual person love the iPhone ---- that equals major sales.
ohh you engadget you are so silly.
My guess is that RIM and Verizon will be cleaning up the code so the device becomes much more responsive...
Well engadget reviewed what's being released so this is the release version of the phone. But most smartphones are pretty lame until they get firmware updates.
I seem to recall iPhone update 2.0 as an example of this..........
Ordered one.
I love this one !!! The only phone that makes me switch from the iPhone. Can I get it contract-free ??
And I will be going to Dubai in a few weeks, so is the Storm available there for a cheaper price...?
@Jash: Yep.
I honestly have no particular interest in the Storm but I just want to see it fly off the shelves so some of these subsidized fanboys posing as journalists have to go through the excruciatingly mundane process of typing up more articles about this piece of infamous hardware.
Or will they just Copy/Paste?
*BANG*
- See what I did there, I pulled the trigger...
I will -hopefully- be getting one myself. I'm currently a Qwest customer (family plan with my dad and sister), and we are in the middle of the migration to Verizon from Sprint. They are offering me a free Curve to make the switch, but I've been holding out for the Storm. They won't give it to me for free with the transfer, but they're giving me 25% off of any handset if I don't take the Curve. I've read TONS of reviews, including the one here on Engadget, and I will be waiting to make my final decision until I can hold one in my hands and try it out for myself. It sounds very much like a love it or hate it type of deal, so we'll see. I'm currently using an Audiovox PPC 6700, which has a physical keyboard. I can type quite quickly on it, however the phone in all it's glory lags behind and when it catches up, is missing more than half of the letters I pressed. I've gotten to the habit of slowing down while typing (who needs to type that fast anyways, right?) so the Storm might be a good fit.
I'll be stopping by my local Verizon shop on Saturday to scope one out.
Whether it's a good phone or not, I'll be a success.
The cell phone industry is all about fashion. Blackberry and touchscreens are the two of the biggest fads currently around. Combining the two can only lead to $$$ for RIM.
Oops, Freudian slip. It'll be a success, not me. :)
it looks like the NE2 discount works on this phone.
comes out to $99 after rebate!
Hi All,
I'm sorry to burst anyones bubble but I have had this phone a week and I am returning it tomorrow
I love the look and the whole concept but here are myissues with the phone
1. Software is very slow, i'm often just sitting and waiting for the phone to catch up as it freezes
2. When I type a email and i go back to edit a word i've already typed I CAN NOT get the curser back to the end (normally a letter or two before) which is really annoying as you have to send a text\email with a single letter stuck on the end or re-typr
3 Speed dial, I used to just pressed down 2 and it would speed dial my miss's, now i have to press 3-4 keys to call on speed dial
4. No way is this keyboard anywhere as quick as a curve or pearl, maybe with more practice but it just gives me a headache to type. emails have become a pain not a joy
5. Battery life is really bad, i have to charge the phone twice a day as the battery runs out too quickly
6. I Keep selecting mute with my ear when on the phone talking (the screen does not switch off when the phone is against your ear)
I really wished I was so happy with this phone and maybe in time they will fix a lot i of these issues but until then I'm going back to my Curve
I completely agree with Nick. I've have had this phone for 5 days now and experiencing the same issues!!!
Totally! DO NOT buy it yet. Rumor is "they will release a firmware update in 2 weeks" Which is so stupid... I guess they wanted to rush to make $... I tested the Storm for 4 days and spoke with an Verizon Employee who said "it crashed during our training"... :)
It is hard but I will sit tight with my 8830 for now... after all its stable and it works faster than storm.
@Nick: this is good information. i guess i'll be getting mine next monday, so your information will give me an idea of what to expect. i hope most of the issues you're experiencing can be resolved through means of software updates...
Interesting review, I liked it!
I'll be picking mine up in 3.5 hours :) I can't wait!!!
not even worth the $200 - especially since BB features just can't match what the iPhone has...
What if you're on Verizon?
Wow. The phone is cool, but the data plan plus the voice plan seems a little too expensive.
@nick
Not sure what your using, but I just played with it, and the screen does in fact shut off when you put it up to your face. Just like on my current phone the Dare. Battery life is supposed to be 5.5 hours of talk and 15 days of standby. I have no proof of that, but with a claim like that, charing twice a day seems excessive. Did you have a pre-release version? Business customers got an early shot at getting one right? And personally I can type faster on my Dare then I can on my BB 8830. I didn't spend too much time with the storm yet, but comming form the Dare, i'm sure I can type somewhat fast on it. I'll know more tomorrow when I got to buy it. By the way, full retail is only 369 for this. I upgrade every few months, so I never get the discounts. I was expecting more then 500 so it was a nice supprise.
full retail is definitely $499.
Hi pete,
Thanks for your comments, I live in UK so I am using the official UK release.
You will find that the phone does not switch off when you are on the phone. The back light may cut off but the touch sense are still active
This gives the owner options to Hold, Mute, call a 2nd caller, I promise you, you will have the same problems if you have the same version as us
My version says V4.7.0.65 (platform 4.0.0.76)
Is there a newer version out yet?
I do use my phone alot and very possible 4-6 hours a day so this could be the reason I may use more power but I am interested in other peoples experience
Thanks
Unless I'm mistaken, and correct me if I'm wrong...the closest plan that you can get to the iPhones base plan of $70 on AT&T now costs nearly $100 on Verizon for the Storm?
Heres how I break it down...
BlackBerry Storm Base Plan:
Nationwide Basic 450 — 2-year contract $40.00
Blackberry® Unlimited Data Usage $45.00
Visual Voicemail $3.00/month
VZ Navigator (required for GPS which, is included on iPhone) $10.00/month
TOTAL FOR BLACKBERRY BOLD MONTHLY = ABOUT $98.00
iPhone Base Plan:
Nationwide 450 minutes - 2 year contract $40.00
iPhone Unlimited Data Usage $30.00
Visual Voicemail Included
Google Maps/GPS Included
TOTAL FOR iPHONE MONTHLY - ABOUT $70.00
sounds like a rip-off for me...
The blackberry internet plan can be had for $25 a month, making this somewhat close to the iPhone's monthly cost
"VZ Navigator (required for GPS which, is included on iPhone) $10.00/month"
I can't comment on the rest of your pricing, but VZ Navigator is not required for GPS on the Storm. Unlike the 8830, the 9530 GPS will function perfectly with Google maps, or whatever application you choose to install that uses GPS.
The reason VZ Navigator is extra, is that it provides voice navigation (similar to TeleNav and Garmin Mobile). As far as I know this is not a feature available on the iPhone, even if you paid 10 bucks extra.
Further, if you choose not to pay for VZ Navigator, on the Blackberry you can STILL get free voice navigation from freeware programs such as AmazeGPS and Nav4All. I'm not sure if they are available for the Storm yet, but if not, I expect it will be soon.
@dvsbstrd
My current phone with the nationwide premium plan is $40 more expensive then the same mintues with unlimited BB data plan. $30 more if add 10 bucks for navigation and 20 when I add unlimited texts. So when I switch to the Storm, it will cost me less. Still expensive though.
I had hoped and hoped that I would like this phone despite the negative reviews. I went into a Verizon store when it opened. Firstly, they didn't have any phones. Apparently they were expecting a shipment 'sometime' today and we could wait if we wanted, or have it shipped on the 25th. No Thanks. They did have 3 storms that you could play with. So I played with one, and it was so disappointing. The clicking screen was pretty cool but the general text entry experience was poor ( I actually would prefer the LG Dare's virtual keyboard to this). Generally the touch screen just wasn't very easy to use.
I was the 14th person in line at the Verizon Store this morning. Right as I was about to talk to a representative I overheard another employee telling a customer being attended too they were out of phones.So they had 10 of the phones in stock? What?!?!? I believe Verizon has around 2500 stores nationwide... You are telling me they only shipped 25,000 out to the stores on the first day? VERIZON... what were you thinking???? Oh and also to the guy who said it was $369.00 to buy the phone outright with no contract, you are wrong.... It is $499.99! I ordered the phone, but I am still mad I didn't get my hands on one today...
I'll preface this by saying I was very excited about this phone and I kept my Verizon subscription alive just because of it.
However, I went into my local Verizon store yesterday and had a chance to play with a live Storm. I must say, I was very disappointed. I'm going to compare it to the iPhone because it's the mainstream touchscreen phone and the only other one I've had experience with.
This may be a new software/hardware issue, but the Storm did not implement the touch capabilities very well. BB used their current OS and just modded it to work with touchscreen. Whether or not this gets bettoer over time, hard to tell. At the moment, it is very... clunky. Scrolling through screens is a chore (no inertial scrolling, which even the Pearl's wheel had). Typing is not easy. The screen-button does not press easily; it actually requires some force. This becomes almost painful if you're trying to hold the phone with one hand and type with the other. One handed typing-holding was not as much of an issue if you typed with your thumb because of normal pressure applied by your thumb, but it was also slower.
I will say however, that the screen resolution was absolutely amazing. My TV doesn't have a resolution that nice. Sound was crystal clear, even on speaker. The phone itself had a very nice heft to it; it felt like you could drop it from a 3rd story onto concrete and it wouldn't be scratched.
Other than my annoyance with the force required to "push" the screen, most of these issues could be corrected by a software/firmware update. For now, I'm waiting...
I will wait 3 days for Verizon's version of The HTC Touch Pro before I make my decision. I hate Apple products and AT&T is garbage.
I feel your pain with AT/T...I had a monthly phone call to make for billing as they would mysteriously charge me roaming charges, claiming my phone had 'skipped' to a cell tower in Ohio (I live in PA)...I've despised them ever since, and that was 15 years ago. Still, I would give them and Apple a spin if the iPhone could handle Rhapsody...Don't like apple's attitude of CONTROL...didn't they mock a certain company about that in a famous advert?
And now I learn Verizon has disabled teh WiFi built into the Storm...to force you into a data plan? I do hope some new phone or company applies the ball bat of competition to those who will chose 'what is best for the customer' instead of letting the customer to decide.
Thinking of getting HTC Touch Pro instead of the Strom...surfing the internets, and what do I see? This, from Gizmodo:
"According to the rumors, the phone would be available online starting on the 24th, but wouldn't be in stores until December 1st. Touch Pro pricing is said to be $350 after a two-year contract and mail-in rebates, which is $50 more than what AT&T and Sprint are offering the phone for. But what's odd is that it seems Verizon will also reducing the specs on the Touch Pro, ditching the accelerometer and reducing the RAM to 192 MB. If that's the case, it will really bring new subscribers and customers..."
So charge more, and cripple the phone???? I think I'll soon be ditching Verizon. Can.You.Hear.Me.Now,Verizon?
@BILL
verizon did not cripple the storm RIM did not add wi-fi radios to the device in the first place on the vodaphone version ether!
verizon does not change the physical specs of any phone EVER they have never done it they may in fact re write the phone os to block features but as far as the device its self still the same as when it left the drawing bored!
Could someone clear something up for me. Go to verizonwireless.com and go to the phone drop down menu on the page, click on the storm from that menu. When it comes up what does the display price say? $99 right? (denoting a $70 rebate in small letters. Then click the buy now button, and it brings you to a page to purchase the curve.
You're going to be charged $169 today, and you'll probably receive a $70 prepaid Mastercard in 4-6 weeks through the mail. What exactly is in question here?
Waited in line for 2 hours for one.. Got one, and was up there... I wanted to just buy it, no new line, no upgrade available.. Verizon wouldn't let me :(
Fail. I guess I'm going to dump VZW now... Assholes..
I played with the Storm for a little bit last night and here are a few things I noticed about it. The screen quality looks very nice. The screen rotation was fairly quick and switches from suretype in portrait to qwerty in landscape. However to reiterate engadget's gripe, typing on it is definitely not as fast as other touch screen phones due to the fact that you have to apply enough pressure on every keypress for it to register. On this not, up until now I thought there was some tech that allowed for the actual screen to be pressed and register a click kind of like resistive screens but not really but I noticed last night that the entire screen portion of the phone was not built into the phone but rather on top of the phone. So when you're pressing to click something you're in fact pressing down the whole entire screen. I don't know about others but that would be an area of concern to me in the long run. Dust and other debris that can get lodged under the screen is a possibility and who knows if the screen won't get loose after multiple drops. Having played with the Bold right after, I would definitely recommend hardcore BB users to the Bold due to it's physical keyboard, awesome screen with amazing pixel density, and top notch build quality. I think the storm is definitly for the average/casual user.
When you select the learn more on the home page it links you to a second window that list the storm for $99.
Here is the link to the second window: http://estore.vzwshop.com/storm/
Pull the trigger? Let's be realistic. The way things are now, some of us don't have the money for bullets!!! Still want it tho! I'm puting it in next months' budget!
There are two stores in Hyannis, MA: the full VZW corporate had 20 phones available (!), all sold out in minutes. I went across the street to the smaller store in BJs, which opened an hour later at 9:00 AM. They only had 5 available (!) but I was able to grab one... just had to wait outside in the frigid temperatures for 30 minutes to do so.
I've been paying an extra $40 - $50 a month to my VZW acct the last few months so that I can charge the next handset I get to my acct that has a credit. With NE2, it was looking like I was going to get a "free" Storm (even make $50 off the MIR). Because I had to work today and couldn't wait outside of a store, I called VZW and spoke to a rep for my upgrade. I had read plenty of positive and negative feedback on the phone and decided I was going to my chances and order it. However, the rep told me that should I trade in the phone for another one, or even turn in the phone (and get my NE2 option back), I would have to pay a $35 restocking fee. When did this start? There was never a restocking fee before. I wonder if this is a new policy that went into effect very recently in anticipation of a lot of people buying a VZW phone (Storm) and getting a significant amout of returns/exchanges. Does anyone know when this changed? Anyways, looks like I'm actually going to have to drive to a store and test it before I buy it.
Its a shame that the market is in such turmoil, or else we could get a full comparison in sales between the two competitors. We'll never be able to get an accurate readout of the success of this touchscreen vs the iPhone due to the fact that, with the market and economy taking such a drastic downward spiral, not as many individuals can even afford to go out and get this. The economy was so much better during the release of the iPhone than now that sales in general will be down after Christmas, regardless of its popularity. Oh well.
I don't know why anyone would buy one. I went in and played with one for about 20 min and the phone was a complete piece of junk. It crashed and lagged like hell and this is coming from someone who is on verizon and walked into it wanting to buy one.
In my very humble opinion it really seems like an Alpha / Beta release, I do not see it as a ready-for-mainstream phone. In a few months to a year with some solid software patches it will be really cool, but as it stands, it seems almost unusable.
FYI,
RIM has said a new free OTA software upgrade for the storm is due "in a few weeks" that is said to dramatically improve speed and performance of the OS
I've had a BlackBerry Pearl on Verizon since the beginning of the year, and I have loved it, so when the Storm came out, I had high hopes for it when I went to try it out. I was very disappointed. The build quality of the phone is top-notch, the screen is wonderful, the size is perfect, and the graphical part of the interface looks awesome. However, the physical interface really let me down. I found it frustrating to use - the phone lagged when something was selected, the touch wasn't very accurate, and it felt like the screen's mechanics wouldn't last after 2 years of heavy typing. Also, I noticed that the back of the phone got very hot. Overall, the part of the Storm that matters the most, and that I had the highest hopes for, is unfortunately a failure in my opinion. I love BlackBerrys, but I was disappointed and left wanting with the Storm. RIM could have done much better. I guess it's back to my Pearl for now...
Also, I forgot to add, the accelerometer in the one I used was terrible. It kept switching into landscape even if I held the phone perfectly upright, and when I deliberately moved it to landscape, it took forever to switch or didn't switch at all. And, when I went to try out the text selection feature, it froze up and had to be restarted.
$200 for a phone with no Wi-Fi... DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY
please tel me where i can get this blackberry strom
i want to buy online froma company to ship me to UAE united arab emirates
and please tel me where can i buy online thanx
I got my storm yesterday and i will say the touch screen was a little difficult to use ( AT FIRST ). now on Day 2 it has actually become very easy to use.. i think it takes a little time to get used to the way it works but when all said and done it works pretty well and very easy... Verizon was short on stocking their stores due to an issue with the OS which had to be fixed by RIM. So VZW stores only got half or less of the quantity they initially ordered. I work for a verizon indirect location this is what we were told in an e-mail from verizon. Overall i like the phone very much and being a die hard Blackberry fan i know RIM will come out with software updates in the coming weeks/months that will fix many of the issues people complain about if you like the phone get it it will only get better... RIM strives for perfection.
I walked into the store to play with this for about 30 minutes and I must say, the Storm is sadly a complete dud. The clicking screen is a nightmare to use and will slow down your typing speeds to a crawl. Additionally, the entire interface looses the snappy responsiveness typical of other Blackberries. Commands take half a second to respond which is super annoying when you're navigating through menus and emails. Everyone keeps forgetting that a touch screen was the most /hated/ feature of the iPhone, while good UI, browser, and responsiveness is what was most loved.
how does verizon spend so much money pre-marketing and marketing a phone that you cannot get?
Pros:
-Nice high res screen
-Stellar Blackberry mail system
-Verizon's great network
Cons:
-No Super Monkey Ball
-Can't travel back in time.
I think I'll pass...
screen name + comment = thumbs up to this guy