It's a shame AvianResearch and NPD can't meet up over a couple whiskey sours, figure out a game plan, and go forward with a unified tabulation method for their research -- but until that happens, we're probably going to have to deal with NPD claiming the iPhone 3G is the best-selling phone in the US and AvianResearch saying differently. Anyhoo, RIM's Curve joined forces across AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile to keep its coveted spot atop the list (and with the 8900 waiting in the wings, this can only mean good things for the Curve's future here). Notably new to the list are the G1 -- debuting in the number 7 spot -- and the HTC Touch Diamond, hanging in there at number 10. Anyone care to wager on how the G1 will fare here over the next few months?

We suppose this comes with the territory when you're dealing with a major new smartphone on a major new (or heavily tweaked, anyway) platform that's in its launch infancy, but there's already a second new firmware floating around for the Storm. Actually, "floating around" isn't a great term here since Boy Genius Report isn't giving up the goods -- but the site appears to have obtained 4.7.0.76, which would be exactly 0.0.0.01 higher than the leaked firmware from earlier in the day. They've posted a laundry list of improvements and changes, giving us hope that the handset is on RIM's fast track to being as solid as it needs to be; unfortunately, no one knows when it'll be released, or if it'll simply be rolled into another build down the road. Keep your chins up, Storm users.

Okay, remember that bit about waiting for a wide release? Yeah, screw that noise. Firmware 4.7.0.75 for the BlackBerry Storm has drizzled out onto the interwebs, and initial reports from intrepid updaters seem to be generally positive. We can't verify the authenticity of this sucker, but if you were counting down the minutes until RIM got around to patching up issues and killing some lag, 75 might be a good start. Good luck, friends.

[Thanks, Erik]

The good news is that one of those rumored imminent firmware updates for Verizon's Storm has just materialized -- the bad news, though, is that it's not available to the unwashed masses just yet. For now, the only way to get version 4.7.0.75 (compared to the 4.7.0.65 launch build) is to have a super on-the-ball BES admin who's pushed the update out to his / her Storm users; non-BES users are still in the dark, but we're hearing those folks (read: the overwhelming majority) should get it within a week or two. Let's hope, eh?

We had always heard that Telus' BlackBerry Storm would be made available in time for the holiday season, but according to the estimated ship date on Future Shop's website, it'll be pushing it. The touchscreen handset can be pre-ordered right now by interested Canadians, though the $649.99 sticker may give you pause. Better not hold up your plans too long though -- wouldn't want that December 18th delivery date to slip.

[Via mobilesyrup]

Word on the street is that people have suddenly (and rather unexpectedly) started to be able to buy the Curve 8900 on Rogers for $179.99 on a three-year contract with support for the carrier's Talkspot UMA service. Why this wasn't heavily advertised leading up to the release, we don't know -- folks seem to be red-hot for this release -- but at any rate, you should be able to stroll into your local shop in the next few days and pick this sucker up. That eternal question comes up yet again: Curve, Bold, or Storm?

Update: Game on -- according to Boy Genius, the Curve is now listed in Rogers' internal database and retail stores are starting to get stocks. So what's it gonna be?

For handset lovers over in Australia, we know you've been paying close attention to all the Storm action in other corners of the globe. Now, you can finally make the decision to buy in or keep looking on your home turf, as Vodafone Australia has finally launched RIM's first touchscreen BlackBerry. For consumers who signed up early for information on its availability, the carrier has sent out an email offering them exclusive access to order their Storm online (and get a free 8GB microSD card to boot). The email does note that stock is limited, so there's still no telling when they'll be available Down Under to the public at large. We are told that it's being sold as cheap as free on plans starting at $69 per month for two years, so at least you've something to plan towards.

[Via BlackBerry News]

T-Mobile Germany's product page still claims that it's not yet available, but reports are filtering in that RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8900 has started to ship to customers in the land of Oktoberfest, lederhosen, and over-engineered automobiles. That doesn't do North Americans terribly much good, unfortunately -- Germans use a QWERTZ keyboard layout, so even if you could get the sucker unlocked, you'd accidentally be typing "zes" instead of "yes" for the rest of your life -- so go ahead and give into the envy for a few weeks while you wait for some more launches to go down. We'll keep you updated, we promise.

[Via CrackBerry]

Here on Thanksgiving Eve, we've got two juicy Storm tidbits sure to make your Turkey Day that much more interesting. For starters, one fellow over on HoFo has purportedly unlocked his touchscreen BlackBerry for use on T-Mobile's GSM network. Hot, right? The process involved sourcing a SIM unlock code from VZW, then updating the phone with software intended for the Bold. If you're not confused yet, you'll also need a dash of Elvish magic and a bit of luck, but you should know that you can't tap into T-Mob's 2G voice network and Verizon's 3G data network at the same time. Next up, the Boy Genius has it on authority that two firmware updates are but weeks away, both of which will target some of the many issues that early adopters have been harping on since launch day. Hit the links below for more details on everything.

Read - Storm unlocked for T-Mobile [Via SlashGear]
Read - Storm updates [Via SlashGear]

Well, it looks it looks like we can put the first Storm conspiracy theory to rest, as RIM has now come out and said that the supposed delay-causing Storm OS glitch was, in fact, more of a sticker glitch, and that there was never such a thing as an OS version 4.7.0.82. As you may recall, the rumors started flying when some Storms started showing up with a sticker indicating the OS version as 4.7.0.82, while the device itself showed that the OS was version 4.7.0.65. That prompted some to speculate that the OS had to be downgraded at the last minute, prompting the delay, but according to RIM, the problem was simply that "several thousand" boxes were printed with the incorrect version number, which then had to be covered up with the proper sticker. Unfortunately, RIM didn't have anything to say about an actual update for the OS, which could certainly use a little patching up of its own.

It's kind of scary to think just how long ago certain parts of the globe had access to RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8330, but for those with ample amounts of patience and a hankering to stick with Virgin Mobile Canada, today's your lucky day. As of now, the tried and true handset is available on the aforesaid carrier, though the price points aren't particularly awesome. Sure, $49.99 on contract sounds fantastic, but that's on a 3-year plan; a more manageable 2-year deal ups the price to $329.99, while it shoots up another $50 on a 1-year agreement. Yikes.

[Via mobilesyrup]

With day zero of the Age of the Storm (well, Verizon's day zero, anyway) now behind us, it's probably a good idea to pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and reflect on what just went down. First and foremost, we're hearing that stock levels are pretty bleak at the moment in many areas; in some cases, stores didn't get as many Storms as they'd been expecting, leading to speedy sell-outs. Some of those that were able to snatch a scarce unit were met with activation issues, Verizon's servers seemingly meeting the same fate as AT&T's and Apple's on iPhone 3G launch day. Will the situation improve? We can only imagine -- but it's hard to say just how long it'll take before you'll be able to stroll into the store (or shady mall kiosk) of your choice and score a Storm sight unseen, especially in light of the firmware drama unfolding before our very eyes. In the meantime, owners (and hopefuls, too), keep sending in your reports from the field!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

So you've read our extensive BlackBerry Storm review and, despite feeling disappointment about it not living up to the hype, can't help but wonder just what makes the thing tick click. While we were a bit too squeamish to rip one of ours apart and find out, phoneWreck felt no qualms about turning this week's hottest handset into a pile of bits, exposing (among numerous other things) the Qualcomm MSM7600 processor that's blamed for the phone's sluggish performance. As to how the clicky screen works, it's rather simple: just a plate behind the display (pictured above) with a dimple to push a button on a circuit board. Never dissect your heroes, kids; it just takes the mystery out of life.

If you're one of the many, many BlackBerry Storm buyers who cleaned out inventories at Verizon stores on Friday, all that time spent waiting in the cold just became a bit more worthwhile. Online orders are being subject to shipping delays and, while you might think this is just another case of holiday supply versus demand, many are calling shenanigans. Supposedly the Storm was set to launch with OS version 4.7.0.82, but due to a last-minute security glitch every last handset had to be downgraded to .65 -- a surely time-consuming task that resulted in many fewer handsets in-store and online for release. Right now Verizon is indicating that orders placed before noon on November 21 should ship on the 25th, those received after noon will ship on December 5, and anything received on November 22 or later will not ship before December 15. That's close enough to a certain major holiday to make BlackBerry-loving kids of all ages nervous. If a Storm is high on your Christmas list you might just want to plan a few extra good deeds on your schedule to boost your placement on the "nice" list -- nobody wants a 7100i in their stocking.

[Via CrackBerry]