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?
well it doesnt matter if verizon took the gps feature on the blackberry cuz verizon has its own gps…
Permalink | Reply
Do ya’ll know if it’s going to be with T-Mobile by any chance when it’s release??
Permalink | Reply
Hey tools…3rd quarter is almost over. Where’s this supposed phone!? Massive tools…
Permalink | Reply
I think BGR reports a lot of crap and don’t know fcuk all about phones
Permalink | Reply
i think that this phone is really cool and nice and sleek and sexy and awesome and sick as hell and tight and dope and NOOOOT black. it will never come out and stuff
Permalink | Reply
ahhhh yessss im waiting for the bold to comeout for verizonnn <3
Permalink | Reply
this idea is dumb. the feel of a keyboard makes the blackberry a Winner over the iphone. why compete? instead why doesnt RIM take its time and just ,perfect the Bold. instead of waste money telling the public “hey you want touch screens? we can do touchscreens too!! here you go– “Thunderrrr!”
Permalink | Reply
When will this be out for Sprint?
Permalink | Reply
Even though it is a world phone, the technology of AT&T and Verizon are still totally different. This phone will not work on AT&T’s network. The phone will work VZW
CDMA network nationally, and will only work GSM if international
Permalink | Reply
all you bozo’s that have put the iphone on a mountain top like it will cure cancer need to stop smoking crack. i am tired of hearing about apple’s wack, product like it is going to save the free world….battery management on the iphone sucks cause att has scotch-taped its handicapped, 1st grade puzzled, 3g network to its 2g network and it burns itself up bouncing between the two signals trying to stay connected, atleast verizon’s phones activate on the day they are released, especially AFTER you girls have sat outside the apple store for 4 nites waiting to get the stoopid thing. who made you all experts on wireless devices anyway??? blackberry has the best products on the street hands down, you really cant compare the two…blackberry makes devices for business, the iphone is a media device, media is for entertainment, not business. how can you possibly compare the two…??? sounds like att’s got you whipped. ya’ll are just mad that verizon is now the largest wireless group in the states since alltel’s purchase. and if you dont like the thunder, so what?? who are you anyway?? we dont care what you think. get over it and go run the battery down on your iphone. bunch of babies.
Permalink | Reply
I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was skeptical about the iPhone, but then my sister gave me her old one. I will never go back from using a touch screen, if I can help it. This phone is the easiest thing to use in the world. With the big screen it is like sitting at a small computer. It is the best for surfing the Internet, and I never check my email anywhere else because the format you view it on, on the iPhone, is so large and easy to read. I will take the iPhone’s touch screen keyboard over buttons any day. Go ahead and wear out your tendons pushing those buttons so hard all the time. With the iPhone everything works with the slightiest, tiniest touch. That is why the iPhone did so well, because they thought outside of the box and offered a superior phone with a superior interface and OS. If blackberry can jump on this, I think they will do very well, too. Competition is good, this is what we need, companies racing to make better phones cheaper!!
Permalink | Reply
I feel that everyone need to stop haten the iphone is over rated you know that when this phone drops the apples will just fade away like everything in it’s past good at the time but goes away just as fast as it appered so let just wait and see then talk trash.
VERIZON BLACKBERRY THUNDER BEST PHONE IN HISTORY OUT.
Permalink | Reply
If you need beta testers I am willing to try. I have had four Blackberry so far. Thanks for improving the product.
Permalink | Reply
I’m so surprised at gullible people are. DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS PHONE EXISTS??? Think about it. It just so happened to be “leaked” right when the Bold’s picture was posted on RIM’s website. If you go back to that ORIGINAL post, it had a silver border, just like the Bold. Now all of a sudden its got a whole different body. This is just GOOD PHOTOSHOP WORK!!! Nobody has seen one on video. HELL I can make SCREENSHOTS!!!!!!!! Also, Blackberry is a WORLDWIDE manufacturer. Blackberry ALWAYS makes GSM first. A LOT of Blackberry users in the world would LOVE to have a touchscreen Blackberry. WHY IN THE HELL would Blackberry create a CDMA, first ever touch-screen Blackberry and ONLY make it exclusive to VERIZON WIRELESS. I work for them and this is NOT happening. Verizon (of all providers) is ALWAYS last to release a PDA, so what in the world would make you think that they are about to release a WORLDWIDE FIRST!?!?! Anyone want to challenge that???
Permalink | Reply
Do u think alltel will get this phone would be able to use it if we have alltel
Permalink | Reply
First thing, the iPhone is better designed for the individual user for personal use. BlackBerry is designed for business use. BlackBerry has built its self such a large image that the introduction of the BB Thunder will be well taken by all business people in all industries. Second thing, I have a Mac laptop and I cannot wait for this phone. I wouldn’t get an iPhone because I have heard too many times that they are no good if you have to type something because the keys are so small. IPhone is a slick phone, but I think the Thunder will be taken well hold its own well.
Permalink | Reply
Vodafone is the same as at and t
Permalink | Reply
Haha they are both fruits… glad you caught that josh. I feel Verizon will totally screw this up; locking or disabling all the neat features I’m sure BB can offer. Oh well we’ll see… official date BB is coming to Verizon is 10/13/08.
PS I saw some pics and the Thunder will have a pull out keyboard.
Permalink | Reply
hahaa josh’s funny…
anywhoo…whoo!
cant wait til tmobile come’s out with it ^^
Permalink | Reply
For us ladies that have nails, the iphone won’t work because our fingers can’t touch the pad to register. I am afraid that the Thunder will be the same. I thought the iphone was a hyped up,not that great and too expensive to maintain due to fees tacked on. Many owners feel the same. I do hope the Thunder doesn’t forget its Blackberry roots and Verizon doesn’t qwell it’s thundering ability.
Permalink | Reply
I’m in the UK and with Vodafones absolutely appalling habit of giving a release date and then changing it I dont see anyway this will appear anytime before February 2009!!! I’m currently waiting for a Bold 9000 and I was given the release date as, (IN ORDER) mid August, then September the 1st, and then September the 4th, and now it appears that the ever friendly team at Vodafone UK HAVE JUST ANNOUNCED THAT IT WONT BE AVAILABLE TILL SEPTEMBER 14TH. Guess my sim card goes in the shredder, and I go with someone who keeps promises and doesnt make false claims every so many weeks……..
Permalink | Reply
when will 9500 be released
Permalink | Reply
when will this blackbery be released
Permalink | Reply
Apparently 13OCT08 is when it is to be released as of now. But who knows it will probably get pushed further back.
Permalink | Reply
Why does every one dub a new phone thats almost like the iphone the “iphone killer”? First of the iphone of more into entertainment than the blackberry and the blackberry is more of a business related phone. I never get too hyped on a phone until i have it in my hands i have purchased the iphone both original and 3g and it is pretty good its a nice “toy” and i also have a blackberry 8820 i call it my professional phone and i love it more than the iphone the bold is going to be a great blackberry with the added TFT for those who love the touchscreen idea im looking forward to owning this phone
Permalink | Reply