Comments on: BlackBerry Storm gets official pricing and release date

Verizon Wireless officially announces the release date and pricing on the highly anticipated RIM BlackBerry Storm.

[7aji88]

that took FOREVER from RIM to release a touch smart phone

[AppleSuxLeo]

Glad they waited and got it right...not a rushed product like the G1. The best smartphone , on the best network , with a clickable screen. iPhone now has real competition.

[anilsudh]

The most stupid phone on this earth is the Blackberry.

[iroq321]

the most stupid comment on this earth is the one from "anilsudh"

[Gregg Pearson]

From what I've read about the Blackberry Storm, it will be the BEST smart phone on the market.
The touch screen acts like real keys; it will act as a tethered modem, which means you can connect it to your computer for 3G internet access, it has A2DP Bluetooth for stereo listening, and it will automatically switch from the U.S. Verison network to GSM if you travel out of the country.
Blackberry got it RIGHT. The Storm is everything anyone could want in a Smartphone, not missing features like both Google G1 and Apple iPhone do.

[kevkeisha]

Come on. It's a Blackberry and all they're doing is following (Apple's) trend. With the iPhone, Apple has done for cell phones what the iPod (which I never owned) did for MP3 players. All I care about is that it has a full HTML browser, my Enterprise push e-mail, calendering and contacts through MS Exchange. I've never owned (and have never been interested in owning) an Apple product until the 3G iPhone was released. IMHO, the Blackberry cost the same price for less big bang features. I've consolidated two devices to one without any compromise. The iPhone holds most of the music and audio books I want to listen to (while chatting on IM or surfing the web). Can the Blackberry storm hold 16GB worth of media. Plus, how is RIM going to compete with the App Store. I'd feel retarded buying the Storm.

[jb14760]

kevkeisha...you should feel retarded for posting a ******* comment like that. The storm will hold as many gigs of music as you want. Grab a card and go. As far as app store, well rim is releasing that to. Then you have the whole cut and paste thing, video, ability to send and receive pic and vid texts and to cap it off if your batt. dies you can just change it for another. But your right the iphone is much better. hell you can get a app to have a zippo lighter on you iphone and god knows that is a must have. So before you start bashing a product make sure you know just what your talking about. Hey you could look it up on your iphone if you happen to come across a wi-fi hot spot, or you are in an area that att's 3g covers. On second thought you should just wait till you get back to you iMac, at least you will have net access there.

[wnbear]

regarding kevkeisha comments...

FWIW - It will support MicroSD cards, so in all likelihood it would be able hold 16GB of media/data. (Theoretically, it could hold even more as larger cards become commonplace.) So in effect, it (in addition to many other phones hitting the market) actually could best your beloved iPhone, as last I checked the memory on the phone wasn't readily expandable...

[darcal2000]

Listen, the Storm is simply a gimmick to compete with the iPhone 3G that much should be obvious to everyone. I'm a blackberry fan and love my blackberry, but the Storm is just a bag full of problems waiting to happen. If you truly want an awesome blackberry get the Bold (true crackberrys prefer an actual keyboard). As with the Storm it can handle a media card up to 32GB which is great. But please, there is no way no how the Storm will be able to compete with the iPhone it just ain't happening.

[Mindstyle06]

I really wonder how long does it take before all these touch-screen phones fail to work (with regards to touch screen)

[anilsudh]

It's been 1.5 years since the 1st iPhone and its still going strong. But of course Blackberry makes plastic pieces of crap that is bound to fail real soon.

[kylebuttermore]

to anilsudh, the iphone is made of plastic just like every other phone...

[iroq321]

...and again.

[sting7k]

He said his original iPhone, which as made of mostly aluminum. It did have a plastic piece at the bottom for the antenna. And the screen is glass.

[calculatorwatch]

He did say the original iphone but I doubt he meant to imply that the iphone 3g is a plastic piece of crap, but considering the storm has a glass screen too and a metal battery cover, that's exactly what he implied

[Wolfie2k5]

My 2 yr old Motorola A1200 which comes with a touch screen still works perfectly. Depends on how badly you treat it like any other device.

[gadjitfreek]

No keyboard, no sale. And with the news that VZW is severely crippling the HTC Touch Pro and selling it for more than Sprint and AT&T, my ol' Treo 700p might just be my companion for a while longer.

[celticbrewer]

Amen, brother. I want a real qwerty keyboard! Not just for typing, but I have no real interest in touch screens in general.

[grissomb]

Let's face it-- this phone is good but it won't math the iphone in ability until verizon decides to stop crippling features.

[Shane4116]

I have been waiting for a while for Verizon to get this. I can't wait till my contract allows me to up grade my phone in December. I will be the first person in line on that day waiting for them to open up shop for the day. Finally Apple does not have control over the market when it comes to smart phones and touchscreen control.

[teitei636]

I'm either heading to the local store or getting it online...haven't fully decided...Been wanting to go BACK to Blackberry for a while, I don't like windows mobile, so I gave my Q to my hubby and got a regular phone. Since the end of the year usually brings great devices, I waited and waited and now...I can't wait!!! Not a business person(my hubby is) but I like gadgets and when he is off in meetings and I need answer, I can chime in and make it look as if its important :o)...I'm one of those people companies love--I like a new phone every year, not every 2!

[pparrydc]

I'm up for a new phone, but I'm waiting for Bonnie's review (and her smiling face on the weekly Tivo show). If Verizon cripples this thing with buggy software like they do on every phone and cable box, I'm switching back to AT&T and getting an iPhone instead.

Verizon needs to stick to building their great network, and let their customers get the full products as RIM and Motorola (and Apple) designed them.

[bubblebathgirl]

15% thicker & 17% heavier then the Apple iPhone 3G.

BlackBerry needs to go on a diet. And I'm wondering if the screen is multi-touch like the iPhone 3G? ... also, I wonder if the OS will lag like so many of the other competitors to Apple.

Also, $199 for a BlackBerry seems a bit steep seeing how it comes with so little built in memory.

And ***, no WiFi?

Looks like Apple iPhone 3G still has the upper hand.

[Shaun822]

It doesn't have built in memory but it comes boxed with an 8 GB micro SD

[troyrig]

Okay, bubblebathgirl, do you work in Apple's marketing department or what? EVERY phone that comes without an apple stamped on the back is bashed by you before it's even released. Get a new handle 'cause yours is plastered over every news piece about cell phones whining that it's not an iPhone. We get it - you live in a "bubble."

[grundyman26]

it comes with 8 gigs what do you want

[calculatorwatch]

I'm pretty sure it has 1gb of built in flash, so add the 8gb microsd and it comes with more than the iphone

[ryanshaw72]

The Blackberry will be able to do one thing consistently that the iphone sucks at - make calls

[sonnyg91]

Ohhh Myy Goddd....its heavier than the iPod???? Wow, how lazy are American's getting?

And if you have a data/internet plan on your phone why do you need WiFi?

[leoncarpenter01]

Why so you need wifi?!

I don't understand why people even ask this question...
Wifi is faster.
Wifi is available in places that cell networks are not.

Most importantly though - there is no data Cap on wifi.
For any modern smartphone - especially one trying to compete with the current touch screen market - to not have wifi is a signal that there product has not been fully thought out.

[CNETFan4]

Bubblebathgirl: Though your percentages look fancy and like they mean a lot they really don't. If you can tell a .8oz difference and think that's TOO heavy than you shouldn't even have an iPhone. And as thickness goes, the Storm is only .07 inches thicker than an iPhone, again if this is TOO thick for you, then you must have tiny hands.

Here's the specs:
iPhone:
Height: 4.5 inches (115.5 mm)
Width: 2.4 inches (62.1 mm)
Depth: 0.48 inch (12.3 mm)
Weight: 4.7 ounces (133 grams)

Storm:
* 4.43"/112.5mm (Length)
* 2.45"/62.2mm (Width)
* 0.55"/13.95mm (Depth)
* 5.5 oz/155g (Weight)

Multi-Touch vs SurePress
This will come down to a matter of preference. Double taps zoom in and hitting (enter i think) zoom out. Movement around the screen is the same as the iPhone (i.e. sliding of the finger up/down or left/right). The bonus of SurePress is I can touch an app button/icon w/o actually selecting it - to select it I would press the button/icon. iPhone will go directly to the app/page if you touch the button/icon (this I found annoying with iPhone while trying it out at the store. b/c there were several times I touched the wrong app).

As far as a "steep price" - it has EXPANDABLE memory (something iPhone doesn't have) and it comes w/ 8GB SD memory card. So, w/ the required 2yr contract (which is also required by AT&T) it's the same price as an 8GB iPhone. With memory disks getting larger the Storm has the ability to expand memory w/o having to purchase a new phone.

3G vs WiFi
Again, this is a preference of the user. For me it's not a deal breaker. More than likely if I'm going to be spending that much time on a WiFi network I'll have my laptop with me or will be at home using the internet. Since Verizon does has the best network (currently I'm an AT&T user, but consistently drop calls and have several "dead zones" while my brother, who has Verizon, has full coverage (i.e. all bars)) Likely places I will be I'll have full 3G coverage and will not need to be connected to WiFi.

iPhone might have more applications and such and that's just great, but it's still a phone first and foremost which means I need it to actually be able to MAKE and MAINTAIN a call! AT&T has lost it's edge in this arena and Verizon is by far the superior network. Not to mention Verizon is now providing better Global availability, something that WAS a bonus w/ AT&T.

[scott2400]

I switched from my Blackberry to iPhone. Best move I've made. The iPhone is far superior to what I was using, and all the comments from Apple?haters just seem funny. It's faster, more responsive, has far more capability, and what's this about memory?? I have a 16GB iPhone with dozens of essential apps, and still have loads of room for more stuff. My Blackberry was my Crackberry, and now I'm so glad I've switched.

To the knee-jerk Apple-bashers: Get a life (and an iPhone) and quit ur whining...

[izzy182]

1st of all, for those talking about Verizon, need to get a life, if you're so opinionated, then go work for a company so you can write reviews, not one company will ever be perfect. Look at Sprint, great plans, but guess what, THEY JUST WENT THROUGH A LAWSUIT ABOUT ETF! Some company can have good prices on phone, but crappy coverage, some vise-versa, and some just plain ol' crappy.

2nd, those complaining about Storm not having WiFi, need to get a better paying job so you can afford a data plan rather than just smooching off other people's unsecured network, or having to pay for hotspots. Besides, I know Verizon's mandating everyone with smartphone to get a data plan, but guess what, they're also remodeling their data plan to bundle with unlimited messaging, so shut your pie hole. Granted, although I'm a Verizon customer, yet there are certain features/benefits I'm not happy with, but then again, that's everyone who doesn't get what they WANT. BTW, if you don't travel internationally, Verizon do have the best 3G network and most coverage in the U.S. Those disagrees and are iPhone lovers...what was the most recent headline? iPhone 3G coverage isn't what it makes to be? Might work good for you because maybe you don't travel around, if that's the case, then good for you.

3rd, those complaining about not having QWERTY keyboard, guess what? That's call evolution, eventually all cell phones won't have actual keyboard to type on, then what? you're stuck with house phone...or are you willing to keep your phone from the 1800's, or the one like Zack Morris had in Save By The Bell?

People complain and complain, if you don't like it, don't buy it. What RIM's doing is call taking a chance, and a very good chance at that, and that's exactly what every company's doing. You are right, won't be like another iPhone, but guess what, nothing can be duplicated, but only imitated.

You bet I will be at the store on the 21st and get myself a new RIM Storm, especially just in time for my upgrade. If there's a bug, so beat it, but from what I can recall, RIM rarely had any software issues.

[grundyman26]

i agree with you , just dont know if im up to writting all of that. they really pissed you off i see. lol

[dirty55409]

I don't know if touchscreen phones are the "future" but it is a cool new technology. Tactility is a factor for anyone who types a lot of texts or emails on their phones. Buttons translate into instant response and speed... The Click Through idea sounds like a great way to lure tactile favoring people(like me) to try the phone. Not to mention the Storm looks sexxy as hell! BTW your message is complaining about complaining. so just like everyone else, perhaps you should stop complaining as well :P *teasing

[leoncarpenter01]

People who want wi-fi are moochers?

How about the fact that in my office we have wifi - fast wifi - faster than cellular networks?
Or how about the fact that AT&T iPhone customers get free wifi access at Starbucks and McDonalds across the country - not to mention the thousands of other locations.

Not having wifi in this device is just plain idiotic. It's bigger and thicker than most touchscreens but doesn't have a qwerty keyboard as an excuse ala the G1.

And all the latest reports I've seen on cellular network data speed put Verizon behind both At&t and Sprint. Yet another reason that wifi should be an option on this device.
I'll be curious to see what an in depth review of this phone yields and maybe it will fair well; but as of now it's a neat phone and very little more. Certainly nothing to switch carriers over which is really what an iPhone competitor needs to be able to do.

I'd say keep you eyes out for a more enterprise friendly and less Beta feeling Google Android phone in the future as the real iPhone competitor.

[izzy182]

I would agree with you WiFi is certainly convenient, and I do apologize, I will take my words back about smoochers, that's if they have FREE WIFI everywhere we go, unfortunately, we don't. Individuals such as yourself needing WiFi I can certainly understand, because you have access to free WiFi, however most network now adays are simply secured. But for those using the phone just because it's a great phone but don't like to pay for data plan yet wants to surf the web, those were the ones I was referring to.

You are right, Verizon data speed is certainly behind AT&T, but not far behind, however, I would have to disagree about Sprint. AT&T and Sprint do have big coverages, but not reliable. I had a Sprint Mogul, as well as AT&T iPhone, sprint drop way too many calls, and iPhone 3G, isn't exactly up to the expectation. Granted, I'm not praising Verizon either, but like every other companies, they are certainly working on the biggest network availability.

[molotov]

It looks like RIM has no other choice but to liquidate as many Storms as possible, as fast as possible. Blackberry Storck is probably the most hopeless example of a company that has run out of juice. First and foremost; no sane person uses Blackberrys for personal service. Those that do; I feel sorry for you. Casualty of herd mentality. The only reason Blackberrys were sold in the first place is because companies mandate them to their employees, which translates to sales for the device maker. Little by little normal people has started to buy them as well. Of course, in marketing terms - the product is popular. Useful? Not so much, how do you feel if your computer could only operate when only connected to the internet or the PC maker dictating what software you could use on the computer? You would feel cheated, mistreated and all around disturbed. The everyday Blackberry user is fine and dandy with such limited capacity of use and flexibility. Not so logical, isn't it?
Comparing to Google Android SP OS the Blackberry OS is like comparing democracy to Stalin' Sovie Union.
Going back to the cheapness of this new device; it is a necessity not an option that RIM had. Can you really compare the Bold to Apple iPhone? Not at all. Bold vibrates when you press the button on the screen! Oh how unsophisticated you all are. SOHO, NYC

[mike31082]

I'm waiting for the review before I decide. Been in need of a new phone for the past few months, currently with Sprint, but contracts expired. Been mulling over weather to go with an Iphone, or to wait for this. My brothers got an Iphone (1st Gen), and I really don't like the reception he seems to get on it. He says it's only on occation, but seems like everyone time I call him it happens.

[iroq321]

just realize that nothing is or ever will be as good as the iPhone in CNET's eyes

[ejeon1989]

To: iroq321,
There will be a phone that will be as good as the iPhone in CNET's eyes....its called the next iPhone.

[iroq321]

touche!

[iroq321]

i will most definitely get this phone. i am a verizon user and the coverage is amazing, not once have i dropped a call. now comes a great phone with the amazing coverage. true, verizon does have the tendency to cripple the phones a bit but hopefully, with as much potential as this phone has, that won't be the case. sure it lacks wifi, but that is the least of my wories, so long as it has the basics (MMS, stereo bluetooth, decent (removable) battery, upgradeable memory, etc.) along with smartphone features, i am sold.

[tcr071]

I left Verizon some time ago because how ridiculous they act with cell phones and although this looks like a very intriguing device it looks again as if the hand of Verizon is going to cripple it. Guarantee RIM wanted to put Wi-Fi on the device but Verizon couldn't charge separately for it so they just had them take it out altogether. On top of that the tethering is disabled unless you spend the extra $15 a month for the enterprise data service. I have also heard, but not comfirmed, that the GPS will be disabled so that you can pay $9.99 a month to use it.

If Verizon would just let RIM make the phone they want to make and allow it on their network with EVERY FEATURE for $30 this phone would match up very nicely with the iPhone. Too bad.

[oassaf]

Oddly enough RIM will probably release another version of the Storm 3 months down the road with Wifi, Just like they did with the Pearl and are doing with the Curve

[Topspin14]

Actually, you can't even tether at all with the iPhone because AT&T's 3G network is so overloaded that they can't allow anyone to tether on 3G.

I have no interest in Wi-Fi for the simple reason that it drains battery life really quickly. I can't have my phone dying on me in 20 minutes. If there is wi-fi somewhere, I'm usually with my laptop (at work, school, home). If I have my laptop and wi-fi I'm not using my phone to browse websites. As for using it at Starbucks or McDonald's that's great for the like 4 times a month I'm in either for 15 minutes...doesn't really seem like a major feature for my life. Also my experience with my friend's iPhone (although it is the 1st gen version) has been that the wi-fi isn't really that much faster than my Blackberry on Verizon's 3G network because the software isn't that fast/the browser doesn't render pages quickly.

I use my Blackberry to tether on Verizon all the time and it is a must have feature for me (although I've heard AT&T may allow the iPhone to tether at some point in the future).

Finally, the GPS point is your best one. Verizon did sign an agreement last year when they took on additional bandwidth that they would start to open up the hardware features of their phones more. We'll see if they actually ever follow through. However, the GPS issue alone isn't enough for me to switch networks.

[tyler_rocks_09]

Verizon IS NOT doing ANYTHING to this phone!
No Storm will have WiFi.
Not GSM or CDMA. RIM didnt make it with it.

Verizon came out with a new phone yesterday WITH WiFi!

And this WILL have BlackBerry Maps. So you dont have to just get VZ Nav.

Nothing is locked on this phone. Verizon is changing there phones.

Now that they have Alltel, they have around 85.2 million people.

Alltel had 14.4 Verizon had 70.8 million.

They now have the Largest Network coverage wise, and Largest Network Customer wise, and already have The Largest 3G network. And Verizon is already testing LTE, and will be the first to release it which will make them have the Fastest 3G network soon.

With all this, they are comming out with more and more CDMA/GSM phones for World Travlers.

And you can Tether your phone if you want to. You will just get charged for it Like every service does... OR you can get in the phone setup and change a code in it to allow tethering if you have a BlackBerry 29.99 data pack.

You need to get your infor right before you say stuff. You fit right in with AT&T... There stupid.

[tyler_rocks_09]

Sorry, i ment Fastest Data network.

Not 3G because LTE is a spin off of 4G.

[hasanrulz]

True that,,, yes iphone is good and all..but blackberry are solid performers

[najames1987]

Looking forward to the review. I myself can't wait to get this phone. Unfortunately, I have a long ways to go as my contract doesn't expire until May. I'm trying to wait so I can get my rebate but I'm so impatient to try out this new phone. I can't wait!

[itisdude]

i don't get it. if the i phone is so great then why do so many of the users have to spend so much time trying to convince themselves that it is ultimately better than anything that ever has or will grace the earth? don't tell me that you are trying to inform others either because in your brainless promotional attempts you only alienate people from the very product you endorse. the i phone is great product but that doesn't mean that it is the answer to everyone's problems including your own failures in life. and stop acting like apple invented the touchscreen. it was done before and it will be done again so get over yourselves and your obsession with everything that jobs feeds you. if you look at this from an objective point of view it is pretty simple. there is a good amount of competition in the cell phone market and that is a good thing for all consumers. RIM has stepped up and put out some good products that are certainly going to make apple think about what they need to do to stay ahead of the curve. if there was no competition then all jobs would have to do to keep all of his drones happy is change the color of his products and put a 2 or 3 or whatever, after the name (you know you have seen that a time or two). all things considered this phone seems to have a lot going for it. is it going to outsell the i phone? not likely. is it going to make a lot of people think twice before just getting in line at the nearest apple store because they want a touch screen phone? if you don't think so then you are a lot more ignorant than even your posts would suggest.

[sithlorderic]

Wow, I gotta say I'm kinda taken aback by the veracity of the Apple folks. I'm not particularly against Apple, I actually think the iPhone is pretty awesome and would have gotten one if it were available on Verizon (I'm not a Verizon fan either, they just somehow managed to mortage my soul on my last contract renewal...) but I'm also not going to spew hatred and venom toward anybody that brings competition to Apple. Why are people so upset that a company is trying to compete with the iPhone? Besides the fact that immitation is the sincerest form of flattery, in all honesty why do you care what I buy? The fact that I may buy a Storm does in no way make your iPhone any less cool or you a worse person. If you are satisfied with your iPhone, then I am glad, there's certainly a lot to like. But why am I some sort of idiot for wanting something else?

Take a chill pill people. Its a phone, not an insult to your mother.

[yoinks]

Don't upset the Apple cult.

[oassaf]

But what if my mother was an employee at Apple?

She isnt but i'm just saying? HAHA

[celticbrewer]

Obviously they're very easily led and need to constantly reaffirm their purchases and beliefs, so they band together to bash anything non-apple. You just need to tune them out.

[grammargal]

Thanks for the info, Bonnie. CNET is invaluable for helping consumers make informed choices. I'm deciding between the Bold, Storm, G1, and iPhone at the moment.
Just one picky comment about your column though. In your last sentence you write, "everyday." In this instance it would be "every day." Sorry, that's a pet peeve of mine. Sometimes "everyday" is correct, and sometimes "every day" is correct. They're not interchangeable. Yeah, I know, this has nothing to do with the phone. ; )

[dirty55409]

Hopefully by the time I am up for a new contract(May 2009), T-Mobile will carry the Storm. I know Verizon is the "exclusive" carrier... but that won't last forever!!

[AZNpeoples]

same with me but actually i got the samsung behold a couple days ago and this phone might not be better than the iphone but it's great for my needs plus i dont have to go with a data plan!

[haub123]

I know that the storm will be coming out for T-Mobile in 6 moths after it comes out for Verizon, so you're in luck!