BlackBerry Storm bows, comes next month to Verizon and Vodafone

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 8th 2008 at 12:01AM

A storm's arrival typically isn't something to celebrate, but we're going to make a notable exception here seeing how the BlackBerry Storm is less of a destructive weather pattern and more of an incredibly hot smartphone -- arguably RIM's hottest to date. Fit to its business-savvy roots, the long-rumored handset comes equipped with the most comprehensive global roaming capabilities of virtually any wireless device you'll find anywhere, featuring EV-DO Rev. A, quadband EDGE, and 2100MHz HSPA for Europe. Beyond that, the Storm becomes RIM's very first touchscreen phone, mounting a 3.26-inch 480 x 360 glass display on a unique clickable surface so that the entire thing can be pressed downwards -- just like a real button -- for tactile feedback when making selections. It includes a full HTML finger-navigable browser, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint editing capabilities, Bluetooth 2.0, 1GB of on-board storage with an 8GB microSD card bundled in the box, 3.5mm headphone jack, automatic orientation and ambient lighting sensors, and a 3.2-megapixel autofocus cam with dedicated flash, making it a legitimate jack-of-all-trades that seems likely to be able to handle even the most chaotic personal and professional lives users can throw its way. It'll allegedly do 15 days of standby or 5.5 hours of talk time on either GSM or CDMA networks. No word on pricing yet -- we're told all will be revealed "in the coming weeks" -- but it'll launch on both Verizon and Vodafone in November.

Gallery: BlackBerry Storm bows, comes next month to Verizon and Vodafone

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, Verizon Wireless, Vodafone, GSM, EDGE, EV-DO, HSDPA, UMTS, CDMA, HSUPA

Tags: blackberry, breaking news, BreakingNews, storm, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless, vodafone, vzw

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)

Neutral

a @ Oct 16th 2008 2:01PM

Could someone please tell me this. Like it says at the top, this phone will work on either GSM or CDMA networks. Will I be able to buy this phone and have it unlocked to use if I have T-mobile service?

Neutral

dan finnegan @ Oct 23rd 2008 11:01PM

yes, unlocking this phone will allow it to work on GSM only networks

Neutral

DI @ Oct 16th 2008 11:42PM

I was waiting for the HTC Touch HD. Samsung Omnia a possibility and now the Storm. I need to use activesync on one of my computers. I thought Blackberry has there own proprietary sync software which is not compatible with Activesync. Anyone familiar with this issue/ Thanx

Neutral

Rich @ Oct 18th 2008 9:30AM

How long will it take the storm to come to At&T? Give me a date.

Neutral

TSaro @ Oct 18th 2008 10:34PM

Wifi is an opportunity for me, because Verizon will cap your broadband at 5gb.

I'm a loyal Verizon customer who sat at tables being jealious of friends and scoping other ATT users who were able to listen to their playlist, Watch pre recorded TV/Movies and make calls all on their Iphones.

Now with Verizons Storm is on deck and set to make its depute (Rumored to carry Live TV Programming) I wouldn't have any reservations if it came with a truily unlimited broadband plan.

Neutral

marc @ Oct 26th 2008 10:12PM

The 5gb is only on the data cards or tether feature of a phone. The $30 or $45 data on a pda is unlimited internet and email

Neutral

mike @ Oct 19th 2008 9:07PM

I would like to get a black berry but have been using a windows smartphone for a couple years. i have a exchange 2003 server and it works great natively with push e-mail. the main and almost only reason i havent gotten a blackberry is that it doesnt natively support microsoft exchange. i dont like the idea of having to install software on my desktop pc or my exchange server to make it work. i hate non native integration. plus i hear that it would cost me massive amounts of money to have my one single blackberry sync with my exchange server. i hear that there is a free way with one phone but i dont know if that is a desktop client.

plus i dont like the idea of putting 3rd party software on my exchange server, adding 3rd party software, always makes the server less stable.

but i love this storm, i want it. so anyone with exchange that can help me figure this out?

2nd, i LOVE skyfire web browser for my q. it has flash that works great, loads amazingly fast and even streams flash video. i dont think it supports the blackberry and i dont think it supports flash either, tht sucks too.

Neutral

Tom @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:44PM

Dude, you have to have a BB server running BB Enterprise software, then you have to purchase maintenance to get upgrades and support, then it runs the Exchange version of the BB Enterprise software so it has to simply have an Exchange account with special permissions only on your Exchange server, no 3rd party software!!!

Neutral

dan finnegan @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:58PM

So are we going to be able to roam on EVERYBODY?!

Neutral

benjamin @ Oct 31st 2008 2:02AM

I was wondering if you can upload movies to the storm? does anyone know if you can?

Neutral

Jake @ Oct 28th 2008 10:49AM

I need WIFI. For those that do not understand.... I work in office buildings where I do not have cellular reception. My house has poor reception. Some hotels have poor reception. And some places that I do have cellular reception, the signal isn't the strongest, therefore the data speeds are a lot slower than WIFI.

I also would like to use WIFI to transfer music and videos between my computer and phone.

Neutral

Johhny La Rue @ Nov 2nd 2008 9:23PM

umm, so all those specs. damn. i feel so bad that i have a tilt. i've only got, let's see, tri-band 3g, and real quad band gsm/edge. not to mention, camera, gps, wifi, etc etc etc. oh and better web browser. and i can use blackberry connect to get all the integration stuff that supposedly makes blackberry's so unique. and umm, none of the general verizon cr@ppyness. any of you verizon folks enjoying that BREW common interface? not to mention cheaper overall service, and certainly cheaper roaming. so yea. go verzion and blackberry.

Neutral