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?
haha yea..i wouldnt get my hopes up
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I feel this will deff be an epic fail, a lifetime is a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG time. I bet this will be the most restrictive phone vzw will have, id hope that it would be open to keep the 4.7 people that don’t return it happy. (yeah 4.7 no million, not even a thousand)
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that’s because VZW puts their phones through intensive test before they are released. At&t just puts a phone out right away.
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I bet there are no Iphones, ’cause it’s a different mentality - iphoners wouldn’t be at a bar, they’d be out and about with a bunch of people - Not that that’s better or worse, just a difference.
So - my question is this: Can the Bold play spoken podcasts?
Does the Bold get on the Web easier than the Pearl and the Curve, which take forever?
Thanks. lk
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I am a blackberry freak but not for verizon
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If this phone only comes out for one provider im going to be very upset. i have been a blackberry customer for almost 3 years now and i’ve been waiting for this one. Please come out for T-mobile!!!!!!!!!!
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Holding one right now. Don’t like it. Interface is stupid. Can’t figure out how to scroll in this thing. And “clicking” the touchscreen to select things is just stupid, and pangs of someone pushing too hard and breaking the screen.
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Phone is for Verizon in the US, and Vodafone in the UK.
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So brag about you having one and dont post pics. pls by all means pat yourself on the back.
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Anyone else think if RIM and nVidia made a deal and developed this phone together that they’d crush apple? Just a random question. Btw I’m trading my pearl in soon… For the thunder!
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I wonder when the thunder will come to BC, Canada. And who will be carrying it? Obviously Rogers.. .. .. .. ..
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Hot Damn!!!
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Um, no dude, att’s phones are sim dependent whereas verizon’s are not. as far as I know the only sim dependent networks that are interchangable (at least in my area) are cricket, att, and t-mobile. Even if you managed to unlock a verizon phone, it wouldn’t work on att because you need a sim card to use the phone, and verizon phones don’t have sim slots.
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looks alright… honestly tho the BOLD looks alot nicer.
and if its a GSM then why in the heck would VZW get it?.
and for everyone who says VZW is better… whos writeing down all there numbers when they need a new phone?
AT&T if anyone should get this phone.
BOLD is the way to go
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@Nick,
Dude, get with the program. I just got a replacement phone at VZW and they transferred over all of my numbers.
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yea and try doing that in a split second transfer with out haveing to go to a VZW retailer
when you can switch phones in 5seconds and have all your numbers then let me know.
other whys vzw wont eever have my service
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no, that would be stupid if att got this because the whole point of this phone is to compete with the iphone which apple already has. verizon has the best service in the US but ATT obviously is better for travelling internationally… unless you have the 8830.i did actually consider switching for the iphone, but i think ill wait to see what happens with this first. Also, verizon is switching all their new devices to the SIM cards soon
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sry i meant att already has the iphone
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So when is the blackberry Thunder coming out? Any one knows what month?
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it’s exclusive only for verizon wireless
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@ work we have been getting emails daily about the coming of this device. trust me its coming. vzw is working on a faq page which is http://www.verizonwireless.com/storm. (the name is no longer the thunder it is the storm)
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hey guys I am wondering if the Thunder will be coming to Rogers in Canada? Or will it only be avaliable on Telus or Bell
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This is a great idea I love the blackberry tmobile better pick up the ball its 4 down and were on the 1 but in last place so the phone is going to do very well just hope I can get it for tmobile
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The blackberry thunder the touchscreen is becoming the new way we see cell phones a blackberry touch if the phone holds up performance wise I will definitlly be purchasing one they are great phones and im just wondering how it will do with your email,&text mesages for my hands are kinda big and I think my fingers will take up a few letters on the screen but im into the touch screen phones and a blackberry, it dosen’t get any better that’s top of the line
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If it is not a real photo why are you “morons” putting it on your site then.
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