I would love to upgrade to this and so would my daughter but we were told yesterday that our upgrade is not due until Nov. 2009.
However, I am a 10+ year customer with 3 phones. I did not ever receive notices of free early upgrades as some of my colleagues who are not due for an upgrade until March of 2010. I cant wait till nov. 09 to cancel tbis contract. Verizon is very unfair.
BlackBerry Storm (Verizon Wireless)
The RIM BlackBerry Storm may blow in a frenzy for Verizon Wireless subscribers wanting a touch screen similar to the Apple iPhone. However, there are bugs and performance issues that prevent the Storm from delivering its full potential.
Posts about the BlackBerry Storm (Verizon Wireless)
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Reviews
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CNET Review
The Good: The RIM BlackBerry Storm features an innovative touch screen that provides tactile feedback to confirm your selection. The Storm offers dual-mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities as well as EV-DO Rev. A and UMTS/HSDPA support. Other highlights include GPS and a 3.2-megapixel camera.
The Bad: The Storm's SurePress touch-screen takes some acclimation and the onscreen keyboard is a bit cramped. The smartphone can still be sluggish even after the firmware update. Speakerphone quality was a bit choppy
The Bottom Line: The RIM BlackBerry Storm may blow in a frenzy for Verizon Wireless subscribers wanting a touch screen similar to the Apple iPhone. However, there are bugs and performance issues that prevent the Storm from delivering its full potential.
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alaTest.com
Review Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 3487 reviews of BlackBerry Storm / Thunder / 9500 from international magazines and websites.
The Verdict: Experts rate this product 71/100 and users 59/100. Comparing these reviews to 835263 other Cell Phones & Smartphones reviews gives this product an overall alaScore 80/100 = Very Good.
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newlaunches.com
Review Summary: As if we couldn't get enough of this new, it comes in full glory of the highly anticipated BlackBerry Storm 3. This is so synonymous with what happened with the BlackBerry 2 that it almost creeps me out. The third rendition of the Storm comes in with...
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fonearena.com
Review Summary: At FoneArena's Mumbai office, we have had a chance to play with the BlackBerry Storm2 and put it through its paces. We break down our analysis in parts, the first being – Design.
The Verdict: So does this mean that BlackBerry Storm2 is an awesome looking device? Yes and a bit of No. I wish BlackBerry had kept a continuous flow of design. They have improved the overall look of the device, but some gremlins remain. A good phone with one of...
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gaj-it.com
Review Summary: Despite the persistent problems with the original BlackBerry Storm, RIM has decided to carry on down the touchscreen road, releasing the BlackBerry Storm 2. On paper, the improvements are highly noteworthy, with more screen accuracy and included Wi-Fi....
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ld2.ciol.com
Review Summary: Second coming of the Storm, but this should have been the beginning
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recombu.com
Review Summary: The BlackBerry Storm 2 boasts a much more responsive screen than its predecessor, the 9500, and also packs Wi-Fi.
The Verdict: If you own the original Storm and you like it but you want something a bit more refined then this is it. If you like the reassurance of a clickable screen, then this is the phone for you. But if you're looking for an iPhone-like experience in a...
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gadgetheaven.co.uk
Review Summary: Pictures published by a Blackberry info site, bbleaks, show a smart metal looking touchscreen device with a mini QWERTY keyboard.
The Verdict: If released, it would be a bust to RIM’s efforts to keep up with Apple and Google Android makers and would join last month’s launch of its new faster, smoother OS, as evidence the Canadian company isn’t resting on its recent success.
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techsmart.co.za
Review Summary: The Storm2 fixes the faults of its predecessor, most notably by the inclusion of next-gen SurePress touch-screen technology and Wi-Fi.
The Verdict: One of the problems facing the S2 is that it simply cannot be rated only against the original Storm. As such, the S2, with its next-gen SurePress touch-screen technology and Wi-Fi, is a far better, more rounded phone, but compared to the latest...
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tracyandmatt.co.uk
Review Summary: RIMs original Storm was not the best device, although it was the first touch screen BlackBerry. Now that RIM have redesigned a few features, most importantly the screen, will the Storm2 make current BlackBerry users switch to it or entice...
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knowyourcell.com
Review Summary: We review the BlackBerry Storm 9530 - a Verizon exclusive smartphone that marks the touchscreen consumer debut for BlackBerry
The Verdict: With Wi-Fi missing, the 9530 Storm is one piece short of a full puzzle, and not everyone will like the way the screen moves around
Price Range: $162.40 - $162.40
- BlackBerry
- Storm (Verizon)
General
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Product TypeBlackBerry
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Form FactorMonoblock
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Phone DesignCandy bar
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Integrated ComponentsGPS receiver, Digital camera, Digital player
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Width2.4 in
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Depth0.6 in
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Height4.4 in
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Weight5.5 oz
Cellular
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TechnologyCDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS)
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BandWCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / CDMA2000 1X 1900/800
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Service ProviderNot specified
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Operating SystemBlackBerry Handheld Software
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Input Device(s)Keyboard, Touch sensitive screen
Messaging & Internet
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Cellular Messaging ServicesMMS, SMS
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Instant Messaging ServicesYahoo! Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger Service (AIM), Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger)
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Supported Email ProtocolsPOP3, IMAP4
Communications
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Wireless InterfaceBluetooth 2.0
Media Player
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Supported Digital Audio StandardsMP3, MIDI
Memory
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RAM128 MB
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ROM128 MB - Flash
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Bult-in Memory1 GB
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Supported Flash Memory CardsmicroSD, microSDHC
Digital Camera
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Sensor Resolution3.2 megapixels
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Focus AdjustmentAutomatic
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Digital Zoom2
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Camera Light SourceFlash
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FeaturesVideo recording
Navigation System
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GPS NavigationGPS receiver
Display
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TypeLCD display
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TechnologyTFT Transmissive
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Display Resolution480 x 360 pixels
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Color Depth16-bit (65000 colors)
Connections
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Connector Type1 x Headset jack
Battery
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TechnologyLithium ion
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Capacity1400 mAh
Miscellaneous
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Included AccessoriesPower adapter
Videos
Photos
After waiting months to upgrade my Windows-based PocketPC cell phone, I set my alarm clock early so that I could arrive at my local Verizon Wireless retailer when the doors opened this morning to check out the new Blackberry Storm.
What a dissapointment.
The touch screen keyboard is kindof nice, but you have to rotate the phone 90 degrees on its side to get the full querty keys. This takes over half of the screen's real estate so you are left with little viewing room. The device attempts to automatically switch the view from portrait to landscape when you rotate the phone--but it is quite problematic. First, I became annoyed that time after time it would take anywhere from 2 to 4 seconds for the phone to recognize it had been rotated. I could not find a key anywhere to force it to change modes.
Worse yet, as I started typing on the phone, my typing action must cause the phone to pitch down slightly. Even though I was still holding it sideways to get the full keyboard, it would randomly re-orient itself back to portrait mode.
Another productivity killer--I decide to test composing an email. The necessary "@" symbol for web addresses is not a choice on the keyboard when you are holding the phone sideways for landscape mode. You have to rotate the phone back to portrait mode, hit the symbol function key, then choose the "@" symbol, and then re-rotate the phone back 90 degrees (assuming you like the full querty keyboard). Otherwise, if you enjoy hitting each key twice to choose some letters, you can leave the phone in portrait mode if you wish.
Now, for web browsing. Holding my Verizon Wireless Pocket PC phone (VX6800) in one hand, and the Blackberry Storm in the other, I decided to test a few web sites that I frequently visit such as espn.com and cnbc.com. There is absolutely no comparison. CNBC loaded in about 3 seconds on my PocketPC phone. I waited 2 minutes for the same web site to load on the Storm. Finally the storm just gave up and displayed a lovely stopwatch picture on the screen and locked up. I called over the sales rep--he tried to say that it was because the phone had so many people using it during the test launch it needed to be rebooted. Fine. So he gave me another test phone to try. Same exact results.
I suppose there are people who will love this phone, and will defend its quirkiness and unusable "productivity" features---for me, I am hoping Verizon will decide to lower their prices on some of their newer PocketPC phones.
What a dissapointment.
The touch screen keyboard is kindof nice, but you have to rotate the phone 90 degrees on its side to get the full querty keys. This takes over half of the screen's real estate so you are left with little viewing room. The device attempts to automatically switch the view from portrait to landscape when you rotate the phone--but it is quite problematic. First, I became annoyed that time after time it would take anywhere from 2 to 4 seconds for the phone to recognize it had been rotated. I could not find a key anywhere to force it to change modes.
Worse yet, as I started typing on the phone, my typing action must cause the phone to pitch down slightly. Even though I was still holding it sideways to get the full keyboard, it would randomly re-orient itself back to portrait mode.
Another productivity killer--I decide to test composing an email. The necessary "@" symbol for web addresses is not a choice on the keyboard when you are holding the phone sideways for landscape mode. You have to rotate the phone back to portrait mode, hit the symbol function key, then choose the "@" symbol, and then re-rotate the phone back 90 degrees (assuming you like the full querty keyboard). Otherwise, if you enjoy hitting each key twice to choose some letters, you can leave the phone in portrait mode if you wish.
Now, for web browsing. Holding my Verizon Wireless Pocket PC phone (VX6800) in one hand, and the Blackberry Storm in the other, I decided to test a few web sites that I frequently visit such as espn.com and cnbc.com. There is absolutely no comparison. CNBC loaded in about 3 seconds on my PocketPC phone. I waited 2 minutes for the same web site to load on the Storm. Finally the storm just gave up and displayed a lovely stopwatch picture on the screen and locked up. I called over the sales rep--he tried to say that it was because the phone had so many people using it during the test launch it needed to be rebooted. Fine. So he gave me another test phone to try. Same exact results.
I suppose there are people who will love this phone, and will defend its quirkiness and unusable "productivity" features---for me, I am hoping Verizon will decide to lower their prices on some of their newer PocketPC phones.
With all the buzz going around about the new RIM storm, I was excited to see the iPhone get some good competition. The storm has a great multimedia player; it's screen clarity and resolution is phenomenal and so its keyboard feedback.
Other than that, I thought it was pretty disappointing, no WiFi support, no multitouch (Which isn't a big one but expected it) and it's browser is sub sub-standard. Overall it's a 4/10. Let's wait and see if the iPhone will get some competition.
Other than that, I thought it was pretty disappointing, no WiFi support, no multitouch (Which isn't a big one but expected it) and it's browser is sub sub-standard. Overall it's a 4/10. Let's wait and see if the iPhone will get some competition.
I like the Storm so far. A lot. It works very well in every respect. Typing is more challenging, I agree. May never be as fast as I was. However, it has a ton of multi-media features, the 3G is very fast, internet browsing is excellent and, mostly, the screen is spectacular. It is a far cry from the Treo I traded in, and also my Blackberry "brick with a thumbwheel" from 2-3 years ago. (note: my company uses Verizon, so iPhone isn't an option)
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