BlackBerry Storm 2 dummy unit appears in Verizon systems

Looks like RIM and Verizon are getting things in place for the Storm 2 -- this picture posted on CrackBerry purportedly shows an entry for retail mockup units of RIM touchscreen sequel in Verizon's inventory system that seems to confirm the rumored 9550 model number is the real deal. Considering how leaky RIM's been lately this doesn't surprise us any too much, but we're still waiting to see a Storm 2 that actually functions before we say an actual launch is imminent.

[Via PhoneArena]

[XChrisX @ Jul 14th 2009 11:52AM]

Let's hope this one does better than the first one.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Jul 14th 2009 12:06PM]

How did the first storm do bad? It sold well over a million units way before the G1 did and it's a pretty good phone with the upgraded firmware. I'm missing the point where this phone failed...

[XChrisX @ Jul 14th 2009 12:20PM]

Let's be fair man there have been numerous reviews touting how horrendous this phone is. I've never owned one but after all of the countless bad reviews why should I?

[Canny @ Jul 14th 2009 12:26PM]

Because it's actually a fairly good phone. I use mine pretty much constantly, and I've had very few serious issues. If I were to count the "I can't take this shit" issues, maybe two in total.
Most of the issues (including the annoying ones) were firmware related; and the latest firmware does improve a lot of those defects, and fixes a lot more.

[Canny @ Jul 14th 2009 12:27PM]

To be clear: those two serious issues were related to firmware issues with the mic and keyboard. Both are a hairs breadth from being non-issues now since the last firmware.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Jul 14th 2009 12:35PM]

Yes reviews were bad and it's mostly RIM and Verizons fault for letting it be reviewed with early firmware. But with the updated firmware its a good phone..

[treats! @ Jul 14th 2009 12:39PM]

The Storm was a good concept but not deliver at release, people generally had or have the following main problems.

1. The OS was not ready. If it had released with .148 the user experience would have been like night and day different.
2. Dust gets under the screen because of the space that allows the screen to move.
3. It is hard to click on the edges because of a single button under the screen.
4. Application memory leaks, and slow response from the phone.
5. The bottom buttons fall off, or have light bleed around them.

The Storm 2 rumored:

1. Will launch with 5.0, and will be 100x better experience at launch with .148 under their belt.
2. Screen is either now clickable with 5 button points instead of one, or fixed like the iPhone.
3. Double the RAM.
4. Bottom buttons made touch, no more falling off or LED bleeding through.
5. WiFi added.
6. Qualcom has no faster CPU to offer at the moment then what's in the Tour, so probably the same.

If true the Storm 2 will be a good phone, and an alternative to Blackberry users who want a little media punch for those plane rides.

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 14th 2009 7:49PM]

The main problem with the storm is that the software is NOT well optimized for the hardware, and DOES NOT have support for basic hardware graphics acceleration. This is why the interface is sluggish and slow compared to devices like the Palm Pre and iPhone. Additionally, its needs some more raw CPU speed if they can't optimize the OS well.

I tried the BB Storm in a verizon store, and it was unbearably sluggish compared to the Palm Pre, and the Web browser was incredibly poor for a large touchscreen flagship device. Web page loading and rendering was slow, panning and zooming was sluggish and choppy, and overall the experience was so inferior to the Pre, iPhone, and Tmobile G1 that I'm not quite sure why anyone would buy one. I'm stuck on Verizon, but I wouldn't use one even if it was given to me.

[Stevo @ Jul 14th 2009 11:52AM]

as long as it works better than the first one, im buying it

[Return of Jackson...whoo! @ Jul 14th 2009 11:54AM]

Whoa! only a bunch f nerds would get all jizzy and grab their crotch over a plastic representation of a phone that is just like the previous model but only built with even cheaper cost cutting parts...

You should all go out and get a life and DANCE!!!! whoOO!!

[BillZ @ Jul 14th 2009 12:04PM]

I am still waiting for a Storm 1 that actually functions...

[Platinum_Skeet @ Jul 14th 2009 12:09PM]

This is dumb. Tell me how the storm does not function since you so have owned one or had one in your possession for more than a day?

[BillZ @ Jul 14th 2009 12:19PM]

I owned the Storm for 3 months. Trust me, I am not alone with this comment. The phone is garbage and needs some serious reworking. It ended up dieing during an update and I switched to the TouchPro. Which is slightly better. Basically there isn't a single phone on the Verizon Wireless market that handles and works like I feel a phone should. They are all crap. I don't understand why these device manufacturers cannot simple make a phone that consistently functions smooth throughout its life. When I make a judgment about a phone its not right when I take it out of the box and play with it for a week. It's after many weeks of heavy use. The Storm is junk, plain and simple. It could not hang.

[Ian @ Jul 14th 2009 12:20PM]

BillZ:

Have you tried the non-touch screen BB's? They are pretty much as solid as they come. I went from 5 WinMo phones over the past few years to a BB 8330 Curve and will never look back to WinMo.

[BillZ @ Jul 14th 2009 12:28PM]

No, I am jaded by the cost factor of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server / Enterprise Access Fee's as well as my experience with the Storm. I do hear great things about the Curve and if I ever go back to BlackBerry I will give it a shot. For now, my company and I will continue to use our TouchPro's and maybe when the TouchPro2 comes out we will reevaluate the BlackBerry vs. WinMo question again. Thanks for the tip ;)

[Platinum_Skeet @ Jul 14th 2009 12:40PM]

When I got my storm I immediately upgraded to the leaked firmware from the UK. But I got mine around March so I had that option. I can see the frustration that you could have if you ended up being one of the first time buyers with a beta type firmware. From my experience it's been a good phone and my only gripe with it is with all Blackberries. Turning the antenna off on a low battery. It's pretty annoying but I'm use to it

[Heimbachae @ Jul 14th 2009 12:57PM]

"Basically there isn't a single phone on the Verizon Wireless market that handles and works like I feel a phone should."

you mean it should work... like a phone... right?

[Chas Underwood III @ Jul 14th 2009 12:09PM]

Loved the Storm vs iPhone piece. With Apple hitting 1.5B apps BlackBerry certainly has their work cut out for them! I have a iPod touch and a BB with full keyboard and love both so it will great to see what improvements the next gen storm brings in!

[Ian @ Jul 14th 2009 12:19PM]

To me, the phone is less about the 'apps' as I only use my phone for talking, work email, SMS, and occasional web browsing... in that order. There's just not much that i'd like to do with my phone other than those things. A GOOD camera would be nice, but honestly, I don't see ability to take true quality pictures because of the limited size the lens can be. I want good build quality, good stability, a good text input system, whether its touch screen or physical kb, and long battery life.

How many farting apps and calorie counters do we need?

[BillZ @ Jul 14th 2009 12:30PM]

Ian, you summed it up in a nutshell. Bravo!

[asim_mujahid @ Jul 14th 2009 1:09PM]

everything about the STORM (after all the firmware upgrades) is FINE. The device works great. But typing lengthy emails, very quickly, is just not possible. And one handed typing? forget about it. For someone like me, who NEEDS to bang out emails very quickly, and lengthy ones at that.....a keyboard is essential....OR a REAL touchscreen device like the iphone....this surepress $h**t just doesn't cut it...

[Art @ Jul 14th 2009 1:19PM]

just give it: no surepress. this has been all but verified.
8GB on board memory. YES, we know microSD is cheap, but which of the following sounds palatable vs a 200 dollar 3gs with 16GB: a 199 BB Storm with 0GB, or a 199 BB Storm with 8gb?

[Michael T @ Jul 14th 2009 1:59PM]

The original Storm came with an 8GB microSD card, so it would be a $199 BB Storm w/ 8GB memory.

[Me @ Jul 14th 2009 9:18PM]

XX *TEST COMMENT* XX

[Me @ Jul 14th 2009 9:21PM]

*test*

[Someone is here @ Jul 14th 2009 9:41PM]

@Me

If you are new here, yes, the commenting system sucks!
And yes, it takes 5 years so it displays it!

Yes I am aware that I started a sentence with "AND"!