BlackBerry Thunder, the touchscreen BlackBerry we’ve all been waiting for
Since we were the first ones to break the news about a touchscreen BlackBerry device, it’s only fitting that we follow up and give y’all the real lowdown on it! This is going to excite a lot of people, but anger many. Are you ready? The BlackBerry Thunder, as it is codenamed now, (all you "reporting" on it as the Storm are incorrect) will launch in Q3 of this year. It is a full touchscreen BlackBerry — no slide out keyboard — with only 4 physical keys. Those are the send / end phone keys, the BlackBerry menu key, and the back key. Here is the most interesting part, though: it will launch as a worldwide lifetime exclusive on Verizon and Vodafone! We’ve heard the unit will be a hybrid device with CDMA EV-DO Rev. C (for clarification, Rev C., known as UMB is practically dead. If the device will indeed launch with a 4G solution, our bet is on LTE), and GSM HSPA for traveling internationally. Verizon and Vodafone will have the same unit. Currently, the model number is the BlackBerry 9500, though it’s very early and that’s likely to change. This is HUGE for the Verizon lovers. For once they’ll get an exclusive device, but Verizon will have a sales quota for the device and if they don’t meet those numbers, we’ve heard the exclusivity will then dissolve and it’s over. This will be extremely interesting to see play out.
P.S. No, you morons, the image above is not real. Didn’t we go through this once before?
P.P.S. For futher clarification about the whole LTE thing, the chip might support it, but that does not mean the network will be ready by any means…OK?
On May 13, 2008 @ 9:32 am, rodak69 Said:
FIRST!
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On May 13, 2008 @ 9:36 am, Dev Shahani Said:
wouldn’t they learn about the pitfalls of exclusive deals from Apple by now?
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On May 13, 2008 @ 9:39 am, Tamer Said:
So I am confused……is this a world phone, like the 8830? So Can I get the verizon version and use it on AT&T?
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On May 13, 2008 @ 9:40 am, Emad Said:
this looks amazing! I’m excited to work on this one!
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On May 13, 2008 @ 9:41 am, Jake Said:
that. is. an. AWESOME. phone.
when do u think it will come out for tmobile?
probably never ahah
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On May 13, 2008 @ 9:43 am, G_Money Said:
All carriers have exclusives, that dont involve revenue sharing on the voice/data plan (ala aplle iphone). Hell Verizon and sprint just got the Curve which have been on ATT/Tmobile for a year already.
Verizon has the exclusive on the enV, sprint instinct, etc, happens all the time
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On May 13, 2008 @ 9:44 am, Paco Loco Said:
Exclusive to Verizon huh. I can see them pulling this stunt to keep up w/ the iPhone considering at&t have those rights.
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On May 13, 2008 @ 9:48 am, Nitesmoke Said:
What ever. Att gets the 9000 and I don’t like touch screens anyway. Looks cool and all and I’m a huge berry fan but ill pass on a touch screen
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On May 13, 2008 @ 9:59 am, argonnj Said:
Lifetime exclusive with Verizon? Instant fail. Verizon will lock down this device so hard that any cool or innovative feature will either be disabled, or charged a premium for.
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:05 am, Phil Said:
I call BS, and I am a blackberry fan.
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:08 am, joshua Said:
i like!
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:10 am, Paul Said:
Here’s my prediction……this will be the best selling phone in wireless history.
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:12 am, JP Said:
Ha. Not a chance….IMO
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:19 am, Steimy Said:
If they say Q3 it will be lucky to be by the end of the year.
My prediction:
Q3 Vodafone in Europe
Maybe Q1, Q2 2009 Verizon US
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:20 am, zac Said:
Yeah, as a vzw customer I have to say it sucks having a super slick phone and then having vzw strip all of the functionality
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:23 am, Tyler Brock Said:
Is anyone but me totally not interested in this. The BOLD is where it’s at.
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:24 am, Jeff C Said:
Not to be a hater, but I do not want a freaking iPhone. The iPhone is a cool phone - it is just not for me. This does not make up for the Bold. Come on Verizon, you are supposedly the carrier that targets (I mean pilfers) business users [from Sprint/Nextel]!
I also have been conducting a little unofficial study. If you ever get bored on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday (pretty much any day of the week will work) evening go down to your local pub, bar, club (the results are usually the best if you go to a club). Sit down at the bar and order yourself a frothy ale (preferably one from the Great State of Michigan). Take a look at all of the little smart phones laid out on the bar. How many are Blackberry’s? How many are HTC? How many are Palm’s? How many are Nokia’s? Now, how many are iPhones?
I have not yet finished my study… Let’s just say the little piece of fruit always wins.
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:24 am, me Said:
looks like an iphone to me…..
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:25 am, JR Said:
LOL…I am going to guess this is BS…
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:26 am, chlettn Said:
LTE in Q3/2008…Yeah, fat chance *lol*
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:34 am, Biga173rd Said:
Why would Rim Give Probably the Best Blackberry to date to a cdma company like verizon who cripple’s all the features to there handset and just looking at that big ugly logo i would walk away.. it’s great for Vodaphone GSM user but what about us GSM U.S user are they smoking crack? At&t is going to have a titi fit about this life time exclusive bs i thought At&t were the number one provider for BB and get all the exclusive what happen??
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:34 am, Tyler Brock Said:
also, what I think RIM needs to focus on is making the devices have a current millennium browsing experience and decent media support.
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:35 am, Dayne Said:
Wow, this will be complete failure, there’s no way Verizon will be able to unload a certain amount of these. Not with the iphone, samsung instinct, and now this on the board….no way…….No one is going to pay Verizon premium’s for a touch screen phone that may or may not be a good GUI touch screen interface….I really think BB might be missing the boat trying to wade in the iphone waters….
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:47 am, josh Said:
Little piece of fruit always wins? arent both blackberries and apples fruit?
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On May 13, 2008 @ 10:48 am, Greg B Said:
Anything’s better than that lame Bold just announced.
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