BlackBerry Thunder live shot, damn we’re good!
253 comments
Filed in BlackBerry, Exclusives, Verizon, Vodafone
You all know the Thunder right? Well, looky looky who got a cookie. Yeah peoples, live shot of the BlackBerry Thunder right here. By just looking at the photo, we can see that almost every button on a traditional BlackBerry like the convenience keys are still there. Like we reported, there are only four physical buttons on the front and a large touch-screen. It is also coming to Verizon. Take a look at a larger shot after the jump and stay tuned for more information on it soon. Wow, we were almost spot on with our mock-up…
Tags: blackberry thunder, EV-DO, exclusive, GSM, HSPA, Verizon
@bigbmc26
We know this because it has been leaked from Verizon ‘insiders’ much like all the other info that’s leaked out all the time. Verizon’s CEO was asked about the Thunder and he did elude to the RIM Verizon/Vodaphone agreement. By the way, this interview was last week, just days before Verizon bought Altell.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=756710479
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As for 3G coverage, you have to look at it on a nationwide basis. Of course major cities are going to be covered. But the whole point of having a 3G network is so that when people travel away from areas that offer cable/dsl service, they will have the ability to use a faster than dial up connection. As for speed, HSPA is slightly faster than EV-DO rev A, however if it only is available in areas that are already blanketed with high speed access, it really doesn’t do much. And with VZW soon to be acquiring Alltel and their EV-DO network, that coverage will only get bigger. And realize that in 2-3 years, LTE will be rolling out on the major carriers (VZW and ATT), which Verizon owns the largest block of the 700 Mhz spectrum used for it (they will have virtual nationwide coverage with it).
As for an exclusive agreement, it is really anyone’s guess who will have it. A Verizon/Vodafone deal is possible seeing is how Vodafone is the largest global service provider (120 million subs or so). Needless to say that Verizon will have a hit on their hands regardless given that RIM already has an embedded base whereas iPhone is still entering the marketplace. And another note as well on the idea of an exclusive agreement- Apple could have had their phone on every domestic US Carrier as well but chose to go with ATT with a 5-year contract (which one might say isn’t looking so good with VZW taking over the #1 spot by the end of the year).
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Oh and don’t forget the number of corporations that use Blackberry- you don’t think some of them will be interested in this device too?
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How desperate is RIMM? Leaking these shots on the eve of the iPhone announcement smacks of desperation… let alone attempting to ripoff the iPhone even after they’ve publicly stated that they think having a keyboard is critical on a cell phone.
I think RIMM is making a serious mistake attempting to go head to head with Apple in the consumer market. If this is at a similar pricepoint to the iPhone there is no way the sales #s will be very good.
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This will be hot in September, Instinct is going to be hot in a week come on bg where’s the review
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at&t has a faster 3g network there was even an article about it compairing them with verizon and sprint. U can’t even use the web and be in a call at the same time with verizon. And u guys keep saying at&t doesn’t make money with the iPhone but people still get features reg customers get like unlimited text, early nights, etc. This phone will be hot and make up for the lame voyager and glyde, but the bold and 3g iPhone will destroy it
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I was just on the phone with VZW to activate an old 8830 (recently got the Curve), for an overseas trip - I need the worldphone capability. Anyway, th eguy was pretty cool, and I mentioned that I had seen the picture of the TS BB on BGR. He said “yeah, I have seen it too, but I have not had a chance to play with it yet.” I asked if it would be a world phone and he confirmed that it would. I asked when it woudl be available and he said “we hope by the end of the month! So… take it for what it’s worth… But hey, BG - if I am on the mark, how about a free giveaway? No way I can explain the Curve and the Thunder to my wife in just under 90 days…
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If RIM can “shift” to touchscreen (keyboard-less) phone, certainly it might consider running Windows Mobile too. Then RIM has a potential to gain some of HTC’s market share.
I wonder if Thunder is going to be better than Samsung i900.
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First of even if a manufacturer offers a phone to a company that company has to bid on the exclusivness of the phone.IE at&t paid booku bucks to be the only with the iphone, verizon with the voyager ,tmobile with the sidekick and sprint with the instinct….. blackberry is one of the smart companies who offer all models to all companies = more money … you just have to wait a while but seeing on verizon lets me know i got six months till its on sprint (cdma) at&t did not get it cause they got the bold … sooner or later the bold will be on sprint and vzw ,and the thunder will be on at&t and t mobile will push for a touch sidekick of course………. but this has froze my plan to ungrade from a 8830 to a 8330 now the wait begins………….
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Why does it look just like an iPhone?
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When will it be announced?
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Are there any specs for this phone yet!? I Mean, the bold has an awesome screen, will the Thunder?
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hmm…usually i would be neck deep in a pile of drool when i see a new bb but for some reason…..yeah this just ain’t doin it for me i don’t know if it’s that it has a big ass verizon logo on it or the just the plain fact that ….well we all really new it was coming so i think that cuts the epicness by at least half.
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And…Google maps works on my Verizon Curve and my kids Verizon Pearl. BB Maps won’t show a location but it sucks anyways. I never understood all the griping about the GPS functionality. There is like one aftermarket GPS system for the Blackberry that Magellan makes and on the few phones that it works on, you still want to use a BT GPS module since the built in GPS is not true GPS but tower GPS. The aftermarket software works but is not much more accurate than Google Maps which is always off by a few blocks. VZ Navigator is actually very good and cost efficient. At 120 bucks a year you would have a hard time finding just the basic map updates for a stand alone system and without the additional equipment cost. I’m sure its probably the same on the other carriers. As for coverage and customer service, they are first rate. You often find you get what ou pay for. I’m and over the road truck driver and find I am rarely out of their customer service area and internet works on my devices even in their extended network areas 400 miles out in the desert. Never had that kind of luck with Sprint or At&T and T-mobile does not rate with any other carrier for coverage if you are any distance out of a major city. From the look of some of these posts from the crybabies though I would say they are teenagers who have never had to pay for their own service so does the opinion really count. BTW Verizon is the only US Carrier that does not charge extra for Canadian service so if you cross the border a lot there really is no better choice. Like I said, you get what you pay for.
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to uhh..”wegmans”. wut is “customer support”? please dont tell me you mean customer service. because if you do, unless you’ve been living under a rock..no boulder for the last 6 years, t-mo has been no 1 in wireless by far in terms of customer service…homework check?
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“Anyone complaining about them crippling their devices needs to think a little harder.. Why would the cripple a BB?”
How’s that GPS working for you?
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I gave up using physical keypads on a mobile communicator back in 2000. I used P800 and P900’s and removed the keypads and just used the touch screen (I’m an expat living in Asia for the past 11 years). Virtual keys are the future. I do understand though, it was a big leap for me at the time but I’ll never buy a phone with a full set of keys again.
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@Deezy
Read my post- I conceded that point that HSPA is faster than Rev A; I am arguing the point that ATT’s coverage area is no match for Verizon’s- therefore a 3G device for Verizon will be able to utilize that 3G radio a lot more. Also, ATT is paying Apple $18 a month for every iPhone- the average amount that a carrier pays for equipment is around $3-$5 a month.
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What’s up with all the Verizon bashing. I went to WES with a co-worker which had AT&T and I have Verizon. AT&T didn’t work half the time and Verizon worked everytime. Even the AT&T reps couldn’t get a signal in the building. Maybe it’s a better network, maybe the AT&T network was saturated. I don’t know I just like it when my device works.
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Wow I don’t often reply to verizon post but as a t-mobile bb fan I thought I would throw in my two cents.
First off I want to congratule Verizon for having an awesome year in regards to customer support. They almost broke T-mobiles amazing 7 yrs run as #1. T-mobile got a bit too comfitable with being #1 for the last 7yrs and almost let it get away from them but they will be stepping up their game . The compition between T-mobile and Verizon on who has the best customer support will most likely be determined next year with T-mobile being the winner.
If history is any indication of how blackberry will introduce a new revalutionary device it would make sence to go with Verizon. When the bb 8100 was introduce years ago as being the 1st blackberry ever to have a media player and camera and the trackball vs trackwheel. Att wasn’t the first to introduced it. Rim gave it to T-mobile. T-mobile had several things that made it ideal for the launch of a new device like this. They had one of the largest consumer bb base out of the carrers in the US with selling tons 7100/7105 to consumers. Rim also new that with a new phone like the 8100 there would be many calls from customers asking about the new device and T-mobile had the best customer support period.
Now with this new phone being a phone designed to compete with the iphone Verizon would be a good choice. Intruducing it on a cdma network makes a lot of sence. There are two big issues with intruducing this phone to the GSM arena. First off T-mobiles current 3g network couldn’t support a device such as this and Att 3g network in not everwhere. Secondly and more importantly the iphone is a GSM phone and it would be hard for rim to introduce a touch screen device to GSM users when the unlocked iphone is available.
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the site and the new bb just got mentioned on news radio 88 in NYC
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At least you can change the batteries on this one. The Apple IPhone charges about $80 to replace the battery! This is the IPhone killer!
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Looks like a cool device. I think i’mma stick to the curve and then go to the bold when it comes out. Don’t know why some people think this is stupid. The are trying to attract everyone not just people who like to have keyboards on their phones. This will attract all those people who switched to a Iphone. Now they can have the capabilities of blackberry with the look and sleek design of the iphone. Great device to get more share of the market.
Lastly, don’t see why so many Verizon haters. I have had T-Mobile and Sprint before switching to VZW 2 years ago. And verizon is way better in all aspects. T-Mobile just sucked bad. Sprint customer service on the phone and in the store was useless. VZW is also rated the best carrier in the country followed by ATT then T-mo. Haven’t had a problem in 2 years and with the others I was always talking to customer service to no avail.
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Am I the only one that think that this looks fake! Come on, this is so much like the iPhone. Hopefully RIM can come out with something a bit more original.
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This is THE end-all device for 2008 / 2009.
In a nutshell…
VZW + Voda + RIM = the most powerful carrier/ manufacturer relationship possible in todays market.
Like it or not, RIM owns the corporate market, VZW owns the US market, and Vodafone owns the European one. Apple and AT&T… consider the bar raised.
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