BlackBerry Thunder getting October 13 date with destiny on Verizon?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Aug 9th 2008 at 7:48PM

We guess the BlackBerry fanfare is still focused on the Bold until we get past a whole bunch of launches around the world, but beyond that, the biggest news has to be the Thunder, RIM's first full touchscreen device (and indeed, its first touchscreen device period). Like the KickStart-to-Pearl metamorphosis, the Thunder name is anything but set in stone -- in fact, we'd venture to guess it'll be something else by the time it launches -- but it now seems that we can at least nail down a model number: 9530. Verizon documentation leaked to Boy Genius Report is showing a "RIM BlackBerry BB9530 Global" in its ranks, which is allegedly scheduled for an October 13 launch. Of course, we all know how this works: even if the October 13 date is legit, a whole host of contingencies could end up slipping the date by days, weeks, or even months, so don't plan a vacation around it just yet (and don't even act like you've never taken a day off to play with a new cellphone, you gadget lovin' son of a gun).

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: 9350, blackberry, rim, rumor, storm, thunder, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Ryan @ Aug 9th 2008 8:37PM

They mean 9530, obviously.....

Neutral

Chris Ziegler @ Aug 10th 2008 12:16PM

So true. Fixed, thanks!

Neutral

snowenloe @ Aug 9th 2008 9:53PM

Im not really that excited about this all touchscreen device from RIM. I will happily settle for an OS upgrade for my Curve and Pearl

Lowest Ranked

Ben @ Aug 9th 2008 10:14PM

I would hate to see a potentialy great phone go to Verizon instead of AT&T.

Neutral

tonynetz @ Aug 10th 2008 6:35PM

anyone i've ever talked to that has att has a constant buzzing on the line and they drop calls. i've had verizon for over a year and it sounds almost as good as a house phone and i have yet to drop a call or lose service.

Neutral

systic @ Aug 9th 2008 11:25PM

so if its 9530 that means it wont include wifi?

Neutral

SuperSexyErik (^_^) @ Aug 10th 2008 12:31AM

no wi-fi?
fail

Highly Ranked

Dave @ Aug 10th 2008 2:04AM

um, there is wifi. do you really think RIM is that dumb? If they released this device without ANY major features that the iphone has, they can say goodbye to their stock price.

Low Ranked

SuperSexyErik (^_^) @ Aug 10th 2008 2:57AM

its already plunged like 50 points when the iphone 3g was released. its climbing a little but rumm cant hold on for too long

Neutral

MMisterio @ Aug 10th 2008 3:04PM

no brains?
fail

Neutral

elgee02 @ Aug 10th 2008 3:20PM

EVDO Rev A = no need for wifi at all. Completely pointless.

Neutral

Kristaki @ Aug 10th 2008 12:49AM

Can't frackin wait...

Low Ranked

Dylan @ Aug 10th 2008 1:15AM

Here's the thing, the blackberry is hugely popular, mainly amongst business users who could care less if it was touchscreen or not but beyond that I've worked on mobile design projects before and the reality is, no matter what the manufacturer has does in terms of haptic feedback, it doesn't matter. We're so used to the feedback we get from buttons, nothing other than buttons will be able to replicate it. A touchscreen phone, whether it vibrates when typed on, presses down like a button, has texture bumps on it to indicate the keyboard, nothing will give the same mental feedback as an actual button so its a complete re-learn situation.

This phone will only do well if enough of its business users are willing to relearn how to type on their blackberry's, which is pretty much a no until it becomes necessary.

Neutral

Ladyjustice @ Sep 3rd 2008 4:39PM

I am 53 and I bought the Glyde. I am really quite surprised at how fast I adjusted to the touch screen. Now when I try to answer my hubbys chocolate phone, I can't work the darn thing. I keep tapping the screen, but nothing happens.^u^ So I think you are wrong.

Neutral

Dave @ Aug 10th 2008 2:04AM

um, there is wifi. do you really think RIM is that dumb? If they
released this device without ANY major features that the iphone has,
they can say goodbye to their market share (and stock price).

Highly Ranked

Dave @ Aug 10th 2008 2:06AM

I love how RIM has yet to even announce that the thunder even exists.. What are they waiting for??

Highly Ranked

Jaredmobile @ Aug 10th 2008 6:23AM

Arghhh I get so tired of these peep that are so confused about the Blackberry fan base! Half my friends have Blackberry's and about half have iphones! Most of which are NOT biz customers! Have you looked around at your local Starbucks or local hang-out? You see tons of BB's in the hands of the Abercrombies etc. Granted BB got it's start and footing from biz customers but since the Pearl came out that has changed everything. This device will be huge no matter the carrier it comes out on and I assure you the demographics will look very much like iphone users. Sometimes we forget in these rooms about the "REAL" world, we ARE NOT the typical customer. All I am saying is look around your local Starbucks on a typical 4-8pm day and you will be amazed at the BB carrying customer these days....

Neutral

backbeat @ Aug 10th 2008 9:31AM

@Dylan: Just how long has your world been flat? If you're an advanced degreed and experienced engineer, as you allude, you've clearly defined yourself as someone my firm would never hire as you clearly have nothing to offer, except the possibility of rearranging those precious buttons which any hack can design. You're a very young dinosaur, yet your fate is the same.

Worked for Palm very long?

Neutral

systic @ Aug 10th 2008 11:58AM

Yes but i heard all model numbers ending in 20 are the wifi version and 30 is none wifi

Neutral

reuvypoo @ Aug 10th 2008 12:18PM

No. 30 denotes CDMA. 10 and 20 denote GPS and WiFi. 10 is GPS, 20 is WiFi, I believe.

Neutral

VZWguy @ Aug 10th 2008 2:45PM

no wife = MAJOR FREAKING WIN!!!!
no massive battery draining pointless thing on the device that losers who wants to skim on the data package need to quantify their loser existance with a nice device they can't pay for month to month.

why get Wifi when you have an EVDO revA nationwide network, along with being prepped for LTE??

you losers who think wifi is a good idea on cell phones need to stop posting, wifi is one of the most pointless features on a VERIZON handset. sure maybe tmobile or ATT with their smaller high speed network coverage could use it.

Neutral

Al @ Aug 10th 2008 4:03PM

Because, there are times when WiFi is faster(ie. in a non-evdo area) or you are deep down in a building, where you have wifi but poor to no cell reception. Then for some they connect to their wifi network to transfer files to and from their devices, which is more of a convince than connecting their deice to a computer.

Neutral

enntoxx @ Aug 14th 2008 3:29AM

Having WiFi on your mobile handset is great. As AI mentioned, WiFi has it's pluses, many to desire having. VZWguy obviously hasn't had and/or used WiFi on a device before... :||

Neutral

tonynetz @ Aug 10th 2008 6:34PM

I have yet to come across an area where there isn't EV-DO coverage on Verizon.

Neutral

Mark F. @ Aug 11th 2008 9:53AM

@tonynetz

Try going to Northern Maine, past Poland, and you will find absolutely no cell reception. However, my Verizon Blackberry 8830 lasts the longest until it eventually loses reception. I wish it had wifi for when im near a hotspot when I am vacationing. But hey, I don't mind being disconnected, its actually a relief at times, and vacations are always too short

Neutral

flippykippy @ Aug 18th 2008 9:49PM

Rev A isn't nationwide yet is it? anyways i have a data pack but wifi would still be faster in my house.

Neutral

ilikephonesthatwork @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:40PM

My best friend has the iphone 3G and he relies on Wi-fi continously! WHY? Because he has a hard time keeping 3G LOL... I use Veirzon's 3G and well have no need for wifi! lol. True story: He and i went golfing this weekend and used my aircard with a cradlepoint router (battery version) and placed it on the golf cart so he could have wifi , umm because his 3G is so unreliable! lmao... My Verizon BB worked like a charm... FYI the course we played was only 30 miles from downtown Atlanta... Of course At&t'ers need wifi, 3G network is sad.... Save the hate comments, the truth hurts...

Neutral

mike @ Sep 29th 2008 12:39AM

Ben, That anyone can put AT&T over Verizon is laughable. I have many friends with AT&T and the iPhone in Omaha, and they say the call drop rate is about 20-25%. Friends I have all over the country, from Sacramento and San Francisco, CA, Spokane, WA, St Louis, and Co Springs all tell me how terrible AT&T is regardless of the phone. A group of my friends all go to a mountain retreat center in the collegiate peaks area of Colorado every year. The first year there we were told, 'may as well leave your cell phones home, or off, they just don't work up there.' I was unpacking my truck when my cell phone rang. Come to find out, that the only ones that have service are with Verizon. People were using the three Verizon phones all weekend to contact the outside world. AT&T has more bars, in more places, than WHO? Not Verizon my friends!