BlackBerry Storm 2 confirmed by RIM CEO
(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.
Bonnie Cha is a senior editor for CNET, covering smartphones and GPS. When she's not testing the latest gadgets, you can find her chasing after her crazy lab or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California. E-mail Bonnie. 
Oh, wait - you meant physical keys? Well, that's different altogether.
A contextual keyboard like the iPhone and Storm's means one phone can be shipped worldwide, since there aren't several languages worth of keyboards to inventory balance. It also means that you don't sacrifice display area with a tarmac of tic-tacs that serve four functions each because they're not malleable.
"The iPhone has a "good old-fashioned QWERTY" as well.
Oh, wait - you meant physical keys? Well, that's different altogether."
- hence "a slide-out QWERTY..."
"A contextual keyboard like the iPhone and Storm's means one phone can be shipped worldwide, since there aren't several languages worth of keyboards to inventory balance."
- that still does not mean that the physical qwerty is not better for messaging/email devices.
"It also means that you don't sacrifice display area with a tarmac of tic-tacs that serve four functions each because they're not malleable"
- a slide-out wouldn't sacrifice any display real estate at all.
From that point of view it does make a lot of sense but I have had both iPhones and can really say I hate the onscreen keyboard and the horrible execution by Apple of auto correct. Yes, I can turn it off and type even slower.
Apple. Can't you remember words I type all the time? It's getting old after 2 years.
The Storm is an awful device. We got a few at work and no one wanted them after trying them out for a couple of days.
As you mentioned, it's all about the network. AT&T sucks big-time, and RIM is making money because of it. If the iPhone ever comes to Verizon, watch out, RIM.
I actually think the storm is fine and the iphone is actually buggy with it crashing so much. mind you I want a iphone/touch to play games.
Palm phones would work better cause at least with them you could use a stylus if you wanted or if you had long nails you could tap the screen with your nails and still get a response. The storm's screen is not that responsive.
I had the Samsung Behold from T-Mobile, it NEVER locked up, NEVER crashed, had a fast startup time, had a good camera, could browse the web... in my opinion was just a better all around phone than the Storm but was forced to give it up cause i live in a T-Mobile no coverage area. The only thing keeping me with the Storm right now is that I can't afford the early termination fee for Verizon.
One last thing, aodowdus, that is a really sad excuse for keeping the "WORST" phone considering the early termination fee for verizon is less than two months of phone bills for the storm.
I had to. Seriously, who expected RIM to stick with version 1.0 forever?
And yet, in our big "company", there is no "official" support for the iPhones which work more easily with our Exchange server than the BB Storm.
I guess it's true - IT gravitates toward the mediocre because the efficient would put them out of business.
There is no comparison to BB for business use.
Hence RIM having a better Q1 and 3 of the top 4 phones in the most sold.
iPhone is the Motorola Razr of 5 years ago. Let's get on with the future and it's not with Steve Jobs and his need for total control of everything.
Wait. Don't put that button on the phone. I know it's the "make a call button" but it doesn't look good. We'll go without it.
Apple, I don't need you to tell me what I want or need like you have for the past 2 years.
Bring on RIM and Palm Pre. I'm done with Apple.
I still like the Bold, so sexy.
It goes against Apple policy. Wait it's 5:32 pm PDT. It's against their policy as of this minute. They'll change the rules tomorrow or later tonight.
I agree that the Storm running on v.75 sucks! But my storm doesn't run v.75. It runs v.141 and it is awesome! It's very fast and responsive (especially the web browser). If storm owners would do a little research before they gave up on the device, they would be pleasantly surprised.
This may come as a surprise, but most smartphone users - at least until recently - were people using the devices to /get things done/. Not to screw with firmware and see what works.
Do F1 drivers get out and help screw around with broken fairings, fuel stops, or tire changes? That's how executives and even C-level directors think of themselves. You gotta be kidding me if these folks are going to tinker around with firmwares to get their phone to work.
1) Slide out qwerty keyboard
2) Vertical touch screen number pad with T9 capability
3) Stylus input
4) Dual SIM Capability
5) OLED
6) A good speaker phone
Wish list
1) Mini OLED Projector - this must double up as a torch
2) 2nd VC Camera
3) 1st camera that backs up as a scanner with ocrs
4) Satellite phone ability
So, in order to beat the iPhone 3G, you simply have to produce a phone with fewer features and charge a quarter of the price (or less) for it.
PROFIT!
- you're saying that the iphone (in its release or current form) has more features than a blackberry? i disagree.
it was all speculation until RIM CONFIRMED. sounds like a confirmation to me.
what more do you need? Mr Balsille to actually call it the storm 2?
- by cardfan1212 May 5, 2009 7:18 AM PDT
- Doesn't sound like a Pre killer.
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- by Shaun822 May 5, 2009 8:27 AM PDT
- Doesn't sound like they need worry about that until the Pre shows up and actually does what it claims, something a lot of phones (including the Storm) have failed to do recently.
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- by iroq321 May 6, 2009 7:31 AM PDT
- way to early for a comment like this. first of all, the pre is not even out yet and second of all, there is absolutely no details on this storm 2...time will tell
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