Must Read: Samsung Galaxy S4 review

Topic: Hardware

Verizon Wireless paid me to take a Storm

Summary: I wound up staying with Verizon Wireless and renewed my two-year contract with the carrier. I also ordered a BlackBerry Storm despite a few misgivings based on mixed reviews--it is being sent in 7 to 10 days so with any luck those software glitches that were reported will be fixed.

Larry Dignan

By for Between the Lines |

I wound up staying with Verizon Wireless and renewed my two-year contract with the carrier. I also ordered a BlackBerry Storm despite a few misgivings based on mixed reviews--it is being sent in 7 to 10 days so with any luck those software glitches that were reported will be fixed.

Many of you asked about the deals I detailed a little more than a week ago. Here's the breakdown in rounded figures.

My previous plan with Verizon--450 minutes, a PDA plan with unlimited data access and an extra $15 so I could tether my the phone to my laptop as a wireless modem ran me about $100.

The new plan with the BlackBerry Storm (Review; Gallery: User interface) will run me about $80 a month all included.

Also see: Lines around corner for BlackBerry Storm

Boy Genius Report: The real story behind the Verizon BlackBerry Storm OS?

But the real kicker was the enticements to get me to renew my contract with Verizon Wireless. I got:

The Storm for $149 with a mail-in rebate and credits for renewing.

stormscreen.png

And a credit of roughly $160 for two months free service for reupping.

stormscreen2.png

Add it up Verizon paid me $10 to take the storm. I'll be back with further reports to see if I got better than I paid for. Various reports of a last-minute OS upgrade may delay further comments--especially if my Storm doesn't arrive until December.

Topics: Hardware, Mobility, BlackBerry, Verizon

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Talkback

11 comments
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  • Perspective

    Sounds like pretty good deal, assuming that you would stick with Verizon anyway.

    That's where the perspective comes in...if you factor in the two-year service charges, you are still paying Verizon regardless of initial bonuses. However, if you were planning to stay with Verizon during the next two years anyway, it's a sweet deal.
    steeldestroyer
    Reply Vote

  • Isn't competition wonderful

    Without the iPhone, the Storm wouldn't exist and Verizon wouldn't be offering these deals to keep people from bailing to join AT&T to get an iPhone.
    frgough
    Reply Vote

  • The entire screen is the button

    Text entry is slow on the Storm because you have to press
    down the ENTIRE SCREEN to click an individual key on the
    screen. This is because the entire screen in the button.

    I initially thought that the screen can be deformed at an
    individual key to emulate a key press. I thought that was
    innovative. But no. The entire screen is one gigantic key.
    Thus you have to press the massive screen to get one
    keyclick. What a waste of time and energy to do so.
    jameskatt
    Reply Vote

    • You haven't been paying attention, have you?

      It's like typing on a physical keyboard, except you can't "roll"
      your finger to the adjacent key.
      Futurdreamz@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon Wireless paid me to take a Storm

    yeah...
    definately storm sucks!


    www.Taranfx.com
    taranfx@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon Wireless paid me to take a Storm

    You have the same plan I have -- Fedex is delivering a Storm to me today. What do I ask for to get the broadband for $80 -- I like it !!

    thanks
    msinger@...
    Reply Vote

  • Tethering

    Can anyone verify the $80 plan includes tethering. If so, I'm in. Problem is, Verizon here tells me I have to buy a tethering option which was quite expensive over the normal smartphone plans.
    If I could get all that for $80 per month, Verizon just went from the most expensive carrier for me locally, to the cheapest.
    I would love to know what to ask for to get this.
    20kwfence
    Reply Vote

  • Tethering

    The iPhone can tether without buying any extra equipment or paying for an extra service at all.

    http://www.junefabrics.com/iphone/

    iPhone is still WAY better than the Storm. Nice try blackberry, I'm sure you'll please a few more iPhone/Apple haters who don't know what they are missing and care only about the brand name.
    dhorn92
    Reply Vote

    • Iphone

      Iphone really isn't an option where I live. AT&T doesn't have any 3G service here and can't say when they will. Tethering on their local network is a joke. Verizon and Sprint are my only options. I think that is where Apple really screwed up with the AT&T lock-in. Works fine where they have a good network but where they don't, I haven't seen but 1 Iphone locally and it is pretty lame without the highspeed functionality. Storm looks like an acceptable compromise for me and it would be $20 cheaper than the plan at AT&T if it includes tethering (author stated it does but local Verizon salesperson says it isn't included).
      20kwfence
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon Wireless paid me to take a Storm

    Verizon needs to do more for their loyal customers. Their price isn't competitive compared to Tmobile and Sprint. I don't care if they do give away Storms. They need to cut the prices on the monthly fees for minutes and text. Tmobiles has free unlimited text to LOYAL customers. Loyal usually means 3/+years with the carrier. I have yet to hear verizon give free texts/pic msg and additional monthly minutes. Verizon tries to imitate other carriers by giving way 50 - 100 minutes at times. But it's total bs if it's not going to be every month. This brings me back to the Tethering price option which is totally off the hizzo. Why would Verizon not offer cheaper tethering with a brand new phone such as the Storm? The market team is so stupid...No wonder my peers are switching to Tmobile. I'm a verizon customer but I'm switching to tmobile soon if Verizon don't provide me with better service options. Tmobiles so much cheaper.... and their network is becoming better each month. Sorry Verizon...
    simpel
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon Wireless paid me to take a Storm

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    jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812
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