BlackBerry Tour in the wild gets Verizon branding, 15 minutes of fame

You can't have one just yet, but someone certainly can -- and here's the proof. A BlackBerry Tour complete with silkscreened Verizon logo at the bottom and a heavily Verizon-influenced (read: red) theme has found its way onto CrackBerry's forums, which -- apart from some characteristically miserable photography and a heartfelt expression of love scrawled in permanent marker -- is pretty awesome to see. If this release goes anything like the Storm's firmware release schedule, we're in for a bit of a wait, so let's hope they're fast-tracking this one.

[Thanks, Ben H.]

[theattack Posted Jun 17th 2009 9:29AM]

This was a phone i lusted after since last May when BGR scooped it, and i know it does some things better than anyone (keyboard basically) but after using my pre for 2 weeks now it just looks so uncomfortable to hold. RIM has done a great job of styling up its phones but i think they still have a ways to go. Still, this should be one hell of a phone and i expect RIM so sell tons of these.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 17th 2009 11:00AM]

What is so good about this phone?? Same old software, same look, same everything!!!! just a different name...

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 17th 2009 11:42AM]

What is so good about the phone?

How many blackberries have you used? What they do good, they do better than most...and every blackberry improves upon it's predecessor. And since it's been close to two years since VZW has gotten an update (storm doesn't count), I'd say this bad boy is right on time.

[hey Posted Jun 17th 2009 12:16PM]

The CDMA Curve has only been out for a year.

I'm a user, and a fan, of Blackberries. I'm sure the Tour will be a great one. However, it is still just a Blackberry. There's nothing revolutionary going on here, feature-wise. So, I can kind of see the point.

[PSIREX Posted Jun 17th 2009 12:32PM]

If you check the BB site there is not much difference between this the Bold and the Curve and the only difference from the Storm is that it's not a touch screen...

[PSIREX Posted Jun 17th 2009 12:33PM]

I agree... Check the BB site

[EpsilonNot Posted Jun 17th 2009 8:20PM]

This phone seems more about what it brings to Verizon Wireless versus what it brings to the overall smartphone ecosystem- yes, the Bold 9000 and Curve 8900 exist, but VZW types have been out of luck.

[PSIREX Posted Jun 17th 2009 12:33PM]

sorry...

[The Fuzz 53 Posted Jun 18th 2009 12:12PM]

No wi-fi? I'm sure we have those peckerheads at Verizon to thank for that. I'm sure it's because they're trying to figure out a way to charge a monthly fee for it.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 1:26AM]

I use a Pearl on Verizon now. If the tour doesn't have unrestricted GPS (meaing I can use it with Google Maps), then that's the last straw. I'll try out an iPhone and see if the coverage works for me. If it does, I'll move my family plan over.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 20th 2009 1:03AM]

You can use Google Maps with GPS on a Pearl.. on Verizon. I have one.... and I do.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2009 10:20AM]

Why can't VZW get it right? Have they no connection to any phone sites on the internet? Pack a phone with everything (wi-fi), neglect to cripple it (gps), don't use winmo on touchscreen phones, and it will sell like crazy (and users will stop leaving their network for the iPhone)…