Let's be honest. Research In Motion's first foray in the world of the touch-screen smartphones wasn't exactly a smashing success. The RIM BlackBerry Storm was riddled with bugs and performance issues, which were resolved with subsequent software updates, but still, the damage had been done. However, there are high hopes that the RIM BlackBerry Storm 2 will wash away all those bad memories and start afresh.
As of press time, Verizon Wireless did not reveal pricing or an exact release date for the Storm successor, but RIM dropped by our offices and left us a near-final product to check out. Its revamped SurePress touch screen, updated software, and new features definitely make it better than its predecessor, but there were a couple of troublesome performance issues. Also, Verizon has the Samsung Omnia 2 and two Google Android devices coming up, so the smartphone is going to face some stiff competition.
Though specific details weren't released, we expect the RIM BlackBerry Storm 2 to ship in November for around the same price as the original Storm, which was about $200 with a two-year contract. We'll let you know as soon as we have the information, and we'll update the review with a rating after receiving the final product. In the meantime, here's our preview of the RIM BlackBerry Storm 2 and a hands-on photo gallery.
RIM BlackBerry Storm
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)Verizon Wireless is offering a buy-one, get-one-free deal on its BlackBerry selection and has lowered the price of the RIM BlackBerry Storm even further to $49.99 (with a two-year contract and an instant rebate).
This is the second price drop for the Storm (first was from $199.99 to $149.99), leading many to believe that the carrier is clearing out inventory to make room for the RIM BlackBerry Storm 2. While RIM has confirmed only that it is working on the device, it has not commented on a release date, pricing, or final specs.
Rumor has it, however, that the touch-screen smartphone will be released in October and just last week PhoneArena.com posted some screenshots of the Storm 2 listed in Verizon's inventory system. As far as features, the most notable improvements may be the addition of Wi-Fi and a revamped SurePress technology.
While it looks like we're at least a month away from finding out about the real deal, we're interested in knowing how many of you are considering the BlackBerry Storm 2 as a future device or what would convince you to buy it. CNET blogger Don Reisinger posted a BlackBerry Storm 2 wish list a few months ago; what's on your list?
Source: PhoneArena via PhoneScoop
The Storm now has V Cast.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)When the RIM BlackBerry Storm debuted last year, there were quite a few things about it that made us scratch our heads. One of the biggest was the 3G handset's limited support for Verizon Wireless services. Though it could play music and video, it didn't support Verizon's V Cast Music or the carrier's .
Apparently, Verizon realized not all was well in the land. On Friday the carrier announced that the Storm would support V Cast Video for your viewing pleasure. The cost will be $10 per month for the usual programming including news and weather, sports recaps and television programming.
V Cast Video and the earlier V Cast Music addition help the Storm gain a little more respectability. Now if they could just fix that SurePress feature.
(Credit:
James Martin/CNET)
After some slight problems, Verizon Wireless officially announced on Friday that it will release a software update to RIM BlackBerry Storm owners starting on Sunday.
BlackBerry OS version 4.7.0.148 will be available to customers beginning on Sunday, May 31, at noon Pacific through BlackBerry's support site. Verizon will also roll out an over-the-air download on Sunday at 7 p.m. Pacific. To get the OTA download on your Storm, go to Options> Advanced Options > Wireless Updates.
Though Verizon did not release a full list of features or fixes, a company representative said version 4.7.0.148 adds a full QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode, a phone icon, and enhances a number of existing features. Online forums have also pointed other improvements, such as a faster camera, better photo gallery browsing, and resolution of a bug that would display a blank white page for an incoming call or freeze the phone, and more.
If there are any Storm users out there who upgrade their smartphone this weekend, we'd love to hear from you about your experience.
The rumored BlackBerry Storm 2
(Credit: Engadget Mobile)As if June wasn't packed enough with new smartphone launches, there are rumors that the RIM BlackBerry Storm 2 may just hit Verizon Wireless stores in the same month.
BlackberryOS.com says it received a tip from an "insider" (a senior-level Verizon employee, apparently) who says Verizon has been training its tech support on the Storm 2 all week and that they've been told to be ready to support the smartphone by the end of May. Though the tipster could not give a specific release date, she said it would be out by the end of June at the latest.
The next-generation Storm was confirmed by RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie in early May, though he did not provide much information about the device. There's some speculation that the new Storm will forgo the SurePress touch screen and will have Wi-Fi.
Perhaps Verizon was feeling a little left out of the party with Sprint's Palm Pre launch and the imminent iPhone announcement. And while hope springs eternal that the BlackBerry Storm 2 will be better than the first, what does this mean for current BlackBerry Storm customers?
(Additional sources: Electronista, Engadget Mobile)
(Credit:
James Martin/CNET)
Verizon Wireless might win over new subscribers with its largest 3G network claims, but the carrier could be facing some backlash from current customers, more specifically BlackBerry Storm owners, if it doesn't take some action soon.
We're, of course, talking about a firmware update for the bug-riddled Storm. While Canadian service providers, Bell and Telus, have officially signed off on BlackBerry OS version 4.7.0.113, Verizon's Storm is working off version 4.7.0.75, which was released way back in December 2008, and is still experiencing such problems as the device locking while typing a message and issues with the external speaker. Verizon Storm owners are also missing out on some new features like a landscape QWERTY keyboard.
For a while, it looked like Verizon would push out the firmware update soon (though when we asked our Verizon contact about it, she basically said "no comment") but according to Boy Genius Report, that dream is pretty much dead, as version 4.7.0.113 has failed Verizon certification and there's no word on when it or another version will be pushed out by the carrier.
Though the BlackBerry Storm 2 is confirmed to be in the works, there's no telling when the smartphone will come out and Verizon shouldn't leave current BlackBerry Storm owners hanging. Yes, you can download an unofficial update but 1) not everyone has the tech knowledge to do this and 2) why should the customer have to seek this out on his/her own? As important as it is to have a reliable network, so is customer service, so what do you say Verizon?
(Source: Crackberry.com)
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
Research In Motion confirmed on Monday what many have speculated to be in the works: a BlackBerry Storm 2. While it may not ultimately be called the Storm 2, RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie confirmed the news to Reuters, saying that sales of the BlackBerry Storm remain strong and that it's working on next-generation devices in the hopes of continuing to tap into the consumer market.
Balsillie did not provide any specifics about the device, other than to say that the Storm has been a success "in terms of sales and adoption" and that sales remain strong, which contributed to its decision to develop the line. The BlackBerry Storm was RIM's first touch-screen device and was quickly pegged as the company's (and Verizon Wireless') answer to the Apple iPhone.
Balsillie added that more than half of the company's 25 million subscribers now fall into the noncorporate category, and just today a report by The NPD Group revealed that the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series surpassed the iPhone 3G as the top-selling consumer smartphone in the United States. The BlackBerry Storm came in third and the BlackBerry Pearl came in fourth.
Yet, despite swift sales, the Storm received mixed reviews from the tech world and there were numerous customer complaints about buggy software and system failures. Currently, the Storm sits with a pretty lowly CNET user rating of 2.5 stars out of 5 based on 700 reviews, which begs the question: Should RIM stick to what it knows best and stay with the QWERTY/SureType messaging phones? It seems to be doing just fine with the Curve and Pearl series.
Might help finally be on the way for the RIM BlackBerry Storm?
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)We're not really sure why Verizon Wireless has been so slow to release firmware updates for the buggy RIM BlackBerry Storm, but it looks like help might finally be on the way.
According to PC World, Verizon is set to release an over-the-air firmware update to BlackBerry Storm users over the next couple of weeks. Version 4.7.0.113 fixes a number of issues and adds some new features. In all, there are over 30 bug fixes and about a dozen improvements. We won't list them all here (check out Wireless and Mobile News for a comprehensive list) but highlights include:
- A full QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode and not just landscape mode
- The addition of a Phone icon to the home screen
- Reduced waiting time for MP3 playback
- Added "Go" button next to address and search fields in browser
- Fixes bug that showed multicolored dots on screen
- Fixes bug that didn't show notifications for incoming text messages
- The ability to rename file extensions on music playlists
This will be the first firmware update for the Storm since December 2008, when Verizon rolled out version 4.7.0.75. And while version 4.7.0.113 is available from a number of sites, we'd recommend waiting for the official release. We've contacted Verizon to see if we can get a more specific date and will update this post as soon as we have any information.
(Via Engadget Mobile)
RIM BlackBerry Storm
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)Earlier on Friday, we reported on rumors that Verizon Wireless would release a firmware update for the RIM BlackBerry Storm, but it's now official.
The carrier has begun rolling out the software upgrade via the Desktop Software Manager and Web-based software first, while the over-the-air update will be pushed out at 9:30 p.m. PST on Friday so you have three choices as to how you want to get the new software. You can check Verizon's support Web site for specific instructions.
We'll be installing the update on our review unit and making adjustments to our full review where necessary, so check back soon for a complete report. Meanwhile, feel free to use our Comments section below to discuss your experiences.
RIM BlackBerry Storm
(Credit: James Martin/CBS Interactive)The RIM BlackBerry Storm has been out for about two weeks now, and the reviews of the first touch-screen BlackBerry have been mixed, skewing slightly more on the negative side. While the touch screen and features list get a thumbs up, there have been numerous complaints about the sluggish performance (check out the CNET user reviews for a sampling), but it looks like there might be a fix coming soon.
Verizon Wireless is expected to release a firmware update 4.7.0.75 for the BlackBerry Storm, though there's a bit of confusion as to the exact release date. Engadget Mobile reports that the official release will come on Saturday, while the Boy Genius Report says it could come as early as Friday afternoon. BGR actually got its hands on the update early and said it improved some issues, such as better accelerometer performance (switching from portrait to landscape mode) and improved battery life, while other problems remained and new ones cropped up. You can read more about BGR's experience here.
We'll keep you updated on the official release, but if any BlackBerry Storm users have already found and tried out the firmware update, we'd love to hear about your experience.
Correction: Engadget Mobile first reported that the release would come on Friday and not Saturday. We apologize for the error.
