Verizon: Expect Palm Pre, BlackBerry Storm 2 within six months

(Credit: Bonnie Cha/CNET)

During an investor conference Webcast on Thursday, Verizon Wireless executive Lowell McAdam revealed that the carrier has big plans for device launches for the rest of 2009--launches that include the Palm Pre and RIM BlackBerry Storm 2.

"Over the next six months or so, you will see devices like Palm Pre and a second-generation Storm," Lowell said. He added that Verizon will also support Android phones, but was less specific about the time frame, only saying that they would be available later this year.

Verizon plans for the Pre comes just a day after AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said that AT&T, too, will go after the Pre once Sprint's exclusivity is up on the smartphone. The terms of Sprint's exclusivity have been in question, but given today's news, it looks like six months is when the carrier's hold runs out.

So, which are you more excited about? The Pre, BlackBerry Storm 2 or Android devices on Verizon?

[dreyfusse]

Pre, definitely.

[bLaCkAnGeL07]

I would like to think that the 2nd gen Storm will turn out to be good. The first was marred with bad press from the buggy release when in fact I have enjoyed the one I have after the updates. It's turned out pretty well with the functionality only increased with the release of the app store.

[TechnoMan475392]

How is typing?

[fonefanatic]

I am with verizon now and was seriously considering a switch to Sprint for the Palm Pre. Pre looks like it is going to be a really cool phone. Now having seen this news I may have to wait and reconsider. I like verizon service but I like sprints prices better and the fact they dont lock phones down like verizon has a tendency to do. Such is life and my dillema

[sherpadude]

The locking down thing is EXCEEDINGLY frustratining as well as underpowered devices. I just bought a HTC touch pro and want to throw the thing out the windows half the time due to latency. From what the reviews I have seen say ... it's the same with PRE... which does look exceptional - from the screenshots and videos.

[stigmattaman]

Pre baby. I was going to switch to Sprint but now don't have to. I bought a Storm on a one-year contract and they did skrew it with the launch software. The update Blackangel mentions is still an unofficial one, which means the vast majority of users are facing a smartphone that crashes, freezes and misses calls a lot. Go Pre.

[iroq321]

just the fact that we have a few potentially awesome phones two choose from on verizon is amazing enough! i, personally, will wait for them to launch and be reviewed before making a definite choice, although palm pre has a bit of an edge due to its slide-out querty.

[kindofblue]

That's good news about AT&T. I was a palm fan for years and still have a treo 650. I had been considering getting an iphone but can wait for the Pre.

[seven7dust]

this is wat Apple needed to do about 1.5 yrs ago !
the only thing that worries me about the Pre now are the Apps
Hopefully Developers get involved

Android devices on Verizon!

[swimpunk]

It will be interesting to see how Palm & Sprint handle the exclusive deal since there's a limited quantity. I wonder if there's a clause in the contract that discusses Palm's ability to provide adequate numbers of Pre phones to meet Sprint demand. If Palm can't meet Sprint's demand in the first 6 months, and then the Pre goes to other carriers, Sprint gets little benefit from it's exclusive deal.

[WolfPackWB]

Anyone think Verizon's going to release any other Blackberry phone between now and August?

[rjpdx]

They'll release the Pearl Flip 8230, the Tour 9630, and, maybe, the Atlas.

[gbelk08]

We need more android devices on the market. Neither the G1 nor the Magic have a standard headphone jack, and that's a deal breaker for me.

[brynn08]

this is absurd news....verizon has great service...i admit that....but waaaaay too pricey....this is a recesseion....im tryna save money.....not get ripped off....sorry "verizon lovers" never let verizon get the pre.....just cuz yall got the most customers dont mean you can get every markee phone....and hog the glory.....with your expensive plans......i might be on sprint....and yeah everyone trashes them for issues that happened in the PAST....but everyone likes to live in the past...which is coo...not to mention all their problems were on nextels side.....never get locked into VZ and pay there outrageous plans......proly stick with sprint....and get just as good service for cheaper rates.....but yall VZ customers are brain washed to death....and dont get me started on ATT ....for there mediocre service...and the over-rated iphone.....lol nah....iphone is nice.....def set the standard for phones rt now.....but needs to be on a bettr network...in my opinoin......ne ways......i hope to god verizon and ATT dont get the pre...they already have markee phones....and shoud stick to there own.........besides thats VZ them is "in" right.....lol how gay.....anyways....im out..

[jjj3wright]

Yo dude. I don't know about everyone else on Verizon, but I don't know ANYONE who would call themselves a "Verizon Lover." We have to deal with the CRAPPIEST phones on the market... While we might get good coverage (which is nice) the phone thing is a SERIOUS bummer... Our stupid provider passes up on ALL the decent phones and leaves us with ****.

Anyway, to clear the air, the ONLY reason I am on Verizon is because I live in a rural area where there is NO OTHER OPTION. Tell your **** Sprint service to extend beyond major cities and I'll go back to them for their phones. Same to AT&T. But until then I, and people like me, am stuck with Verizon. And since I am stuck, I HOPE TO GOD that they get some decent phones like the iphone or Pre!!!!

[GaryG7]

It seems to me that VZ only gets crappy Blackberrys as exclusives. I have a BB World Edition that is a disaster to use. The keyboard is impossible to see in low light. Every 10 days or so, the phone goes nuts. The hourglass will run over and over. The battery drains at a rate of 10% per hour. I have to back up the handheld (no easy feat because I have a Mac, which RIM refuses to support, so I have to drag out my old PC notebook just for this purpose), then wipe the Blackberry and restore the data and programs. I lose some information that the BB desktop software doesn't back up and my icons get rearranged.

My contract with VZ expires on 6/22/09. I'm leaning toward going to AT&T and getting either a Bold or the iphone.

[oldsecurityguy]

I have a Verizon family plan, and want Android.

The more general problem that a bunch of you guys are pointing out is how the carriers and vendors are limiting choice with these exclusive deals. Its BS....

We should be able to buy whatever phone we want, and use it on whatever network we want. Make the carriers compete on service, coverage and price rather than on their ability to sign an exclusive distribution agreement with a device vendor. In other industries I think they call this restraint of trade, which is illegal.