Verizon and RIM bungle Storm launch

Verizon Wireless and RIM had promised there would be ample Blackberry Storm devices for all customers. However, that was not the case. This morning I went to get the phone at 6:30 am to wait in queue. I was about the 25th in queue. Shortly, before 7 am the store manager was out with a writing pad informing people after about the 15th person or so that they were not going to have enough on hand, another shipment was on its way and he would take down the customers’ phone numbers and call them when it was in. Even then you were not guaranteed the phone. You had to make it out to the store within 15 minutes of receiving the phone call otherwise you were out of luck. So, what gives? Well, Boy Genius Report had some early information yesterday saying that Verizon would not be able to meet the demand. Apparently, according to Verizon, it was RIM’s fault that they were not able to ship enough devices. To me, that just is the Big Red pointing a finger at the manufacturer for its inability to estimate the demand and not having a strategy in place to meet the rush for the device. I have been with Verizon for a while, but  right now, I am really pissed at them for bungling perhaps their best opportunity to take on AT&T and Apple iPhone. No matter what success the Storm has, I think, this experience will forever be associated with the launch and perhaps hard to live down for Verizon Wireless and RIM to a degree. And I thought I had it bad, until I read the plight of one of our reader who was lied to twice and is very annoyed at Verizon right now. You can read about his encounter here.

Blackberry Storm reviewed

Considering that we are just a day away from the much awaited Blackberry Storm, here are two in-depth reviews of the Blackberry Storm from Boy Genius Report and Engadget. Just be warned these are truly in-depth review. So, if you intend to read them, make sure you have plenty of time on hand to take notes because that is what you will need to get a good understanding of all the features in the device. In summary, though, according to Boy Genius Report:

Here’s our honest to god non-biased conclusion… this is the best phone to ever touch Verizon Wireless so far. If you’re a Verizon Wireless subscriber and a dumb phone won’t cut it, you’d be pretty air-headed to not pick this bad boy up above any other smartphone in Verizon’s lineup.

Engadget took a slightly different route in that their review is sprinkled with comparisions to iPhone. And this is what Engadget has to say about the phone:

The selling points are easy: the phone is gorgeous to look at and hold, it’s designed and backed by RIM (now almost a household name thanks to their prevalence in the business and entertainment markets), and it’s packed with features that, at first glance, make it seem not only as good as the iPhone, but better. The only hitch in this plan is a major one: it’s not as easy, enjoyable, or consistent to use as the iPhone, and the one place where everyone is sure they have an upper hand — that wow-inducing clickable screen — just isn’t all that great.

So, as I said, if you are indeed planning on getting this phone, decide the features that are important to you, read the reviews, take notes, and then make the decision.

Excellent hands-on video of Verizon Blackberry Storm

Here is an excellent hands-on review of the Blackberry Storm that Verizon is launching this week. The reviewer has done a great job of highlighting the key features of the phone and is definitely worth the 6 minutes or so to review it if you are in market for the Storm.

[Via Crackberry.com]

How does Blackberry Storm stack up against the Apple iPhone?

The CIO magazine has done a very interesting comparision between the Apple iPhone and the RIM Blackberry Storm. Instead of arguing for one over the other, they have put up reasons in two separate articles outlining the strengths of each phone and letting the readers decide. Though these articles do not break new ground, as one reader mentions, they just help someone, who has already made up their mind about one or the other,  articulate the reasons why one is better than other. For reasons why Blackberry Storm is better than Apple iPhone, click here. For reasons why Apple iPhone is better than Blackberry Storm, click here.

In summary, here are the reasons in reverse order, why Storm is better than iPhone:

1. Stereo Bluetooth capability
2. Removable battery
3. Expandable memory
4. Video recording
5. Works as a tethered modem
6. Tactile feedback
7. Copy and paste
8. Multitasking

And, here are the reasons, again in reverse order, why Apple iPhone is better than the Blackberry Storm:

1. It’s now second-generation
2. Built-in memory
3. iTunes App Store
4. iTunes integration
5. Full QWERY (virtual) keyboard
6. Wi-Fi support
7. iPod media player
8. Safari browser

I have to disagree with the CIO magazine on one point. According to them, the Apple’s virtual full QWERTY keyboard which is available in both landscape and potrait modes,  is one reason in favor of the iPhone. However, I feel that for use with touch, it is difficult to type on a full QWERTY keyboard in potrait mode. There can be numerous errors due to small keys in potrait mode and a new user would not fare any better than using the SureType keyboard found on the Blackberry Storm.

[Via Apple 2.0 Blog on Fortune]

Best Buy to now sell Blackberry Storm starting November 23rd

Originally Best Buy had indicated that it would be selling Blackberry Storm starting November 16th. Unfortunately for them, Verizon Wireless and RIM decided to launch the Storm on November 21st. Consequently, Best Buy will now start selling the Storm in their stores on November 23rd. On the positive side of it, they will be able set up the Verizon contracts for you in the store, so you won’t have to shell out $599 to purchase. You can get it for $199 with 2-year contract.

Blackberry Storm unboxed

Here is a very funny video of the Blackberry Storm being unboxed from across the pond in UK. The background conversation and effects are hilarious.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Verizon to launch Blackberry Storm on November 21

Folks, the wait is over. No more speculation, no more rumors. Verizon Wireless has finally announced the launch date for Blackberry Storm. Mark your calendars, get ready to form lines and carry $249 dollars on you, because that is what you will need to get this phone. There is a $50 mail-in rebate that you will get when you buy the phone, thus bringing the price down to $199 with 2-year contract.

Verizon to launch Blackberry Storm on November 24th for SMB

Rumor has it that Verizon Wireless will launch the Blackberry Storm on November 24th with a pre-launch event on November 20th for only their prospective small business customer who have received mailer from them, according to Boy Genius Report. The mailers are being sent this week. So, keep a lookout on your mailbox to see if you are one of their “high value customers”.  These customers will be able to pre-order and possibly even get their phones on the same day. BGR seems to think this would be the launch dates for consumers too. However, that is not clear.

Verizon’s Blackberry Storm pricing revealed

Update: According to Engadget, the price could just be leftover pricing from the testing. They also think it could be simply the copy of the record for the Blackberry 8830 World Edition Smartphone which retails at $219.

Verizon Wireless has just got one step closer to releasing the Blackberry Storm. They have put up the pricing on their test site which you can see here. Make sure to change your location to 85001. According to that site, the Storm will cost $219 with 2-year contract and $289 with 1-year contract. The full retail price is $519. That is pretty cool considering that price is not discounted with rebates and discounts. As far as the release date goes, it is still unclear, however, Verizon Wireless is expected to make an announcement any day now.

Thanks, BGR.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Verizon’s un-helpful Blackberry Storm press release

Today Verizon Wireless sent out a press release related to Blackberry Storm. I was excited to see it in my mailbox. I thought here we go, we have a date, a price, something. Boy, was I let down! It was a release about how you can use Blackberry Storm for global roaming and access voice and data in 200 countries. It also included the pricing for those data plans. And I am like, duh! What use is this information to us now when we don’t even have a phone to use it on.

Anyways, here is the press release in its entirety for your viewing pleasure and enlightenment 🙂

New BlackBerry Storm – Available Exclusively in the U.S. to Verizon Wireless Customers – Makes Globetrotting a Breeze

11/06/2008

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Whether traveling to Europe for an international conference or to Asia for a business meeting, the BlackBerry® Storm™ from Verizon Wireless will give globetrotters the freedom of reliable global connectivity in a single, stylish handset. With the launch of the BlackBerry Storm, customers can use the world’s first “clickable” touch-screen BlackBerry smartphone to connect to their offices and homes in more than 200 destinations for voice and more than 150 destinations for data worldwide. The BlackBerry Storm allows for roaming in South America and Japan and also provides 3G data speeds on select international networks, giving customers high-speed connectivity when they are abroad.

The Storm comes pre-installed with a SIM card, so customers who plan to travel abroad can activate global service at the time of purchase or by calling Verizon Wireless prior to leaving the U.S. For those who travel abroad frequently, the company’s Global Value Plan offers discounted roaming charges on calls made to and from 130 countries for just $4.99 a month.

Verizon Wireless customers traveling for business or pleasure in both the U.S. and abroad can use GlobalEmail on their BlackBerry Storms to access corporate e-mail attachments as well as personal or POP3 e-mail accounts. Verizon Wireless’ unlimited GlobalEmail Plan offers one flat-rate data pricing and covers Web browsing, picture messaging and Visual Voice Mail in the U.S. as well as overseas. Verizon Wireless’ GlobalEmail Data Plans are available for $69.99 monthly access for a stand-alone data plan and $64.99 monthly access when added to any voice plan.

Business customers with five or more lines of service will be able to purchase a GlobalEmail Plan for their BlackBerry Storms by calling their Business Sales Representatives at 1-800-899-4249.

To learn more or register to be notified when the BlackBerry Storm is available, visit www.blackberry.com/storm or www.verizonwireless.com/storm. For more information on Verizon Wireless’ international services, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/vzglobal.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 70.8 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 71,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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