BlackBerry Storm 9530 is BlackBerry Thunder, BlackBerry Thunder is BlackBerry Storm, for realz
That was a nice roller-coaster ride, no? Our main man Chris Zigz over at Engadget Mobile scored actual BlackBerry Storm packaging renders, and well, the BlackBerry Storm doesn’t look to bringing that much rain. If we read the box correctly, it seems as if there is an 8GB microSD card pre-installed (totally weak in our opinion), a 3.5mm headset jack, pre-installed SIM card, and no Wi-Fi. It is indeed a global phone, as stated on the box, our original scoop, and the SIM card bit (duh!), but other intricate details are unavailable at this time. Oh yeah, the name! Here is the break down on that: the BlackBerry Storm is for Verizon, and the BlackBerry Thunder is the name for the device on other carriers such a Rogers and Vodafone. Wait, Rogers? So much for that huge exclusivity. We guess RIM realized they’d only have a limited run with Verizon being the sole carrier in North America, and we’re not so sure about having different names for the same device. It’s one thing to have different model numbers for the slightest variations (read: wack), but for the same device? Oh well. We’re still holding true to our rumored mid-September marketing blitz and mid-October release date on Verizon Wireless.
Tags: blackberry storm, blackberry thunder, microsd, Verizon, Wi-Fi
Sorry BGR, but all I can say is “owned.” You were wrong. Wow, good thing you acted like a “know-it-all”. Guess it bit u in the ass this time.
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Btw, hit the link if you’re not sure what I’m talking about here:
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/07/10/are-you-serious-part-2/
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Rogers?? what ever happened to telus? will telus still get this phone
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You do realize we were both right, correct? It’s the Thunder and the Storm. Plus if you want to bring up old shit, at least quote me. “And you’re wrong about the name, too. Thunder is the codename.” That’s exactly what I said. Code. Name.
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Question, how was BGR “owned?”
It’s a blackberry, and Verizon’s answer to the jesusPhone 3G. Oh, so we just learned the name now. Heck Ziegler could be porking a Verizon chick for all we know.
Nope, I see a name and kind of a lame one at that. Nothing to see here, move along. Not news. BGR not owned. Goodbye.
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This is great news! I was wondering if RIM would brand off with two separate models (Thunder and Storm) it would make sense.
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Sometimes i don’t understand the crap the RIM pulls..Can the pre-installed memory card be removed and replaced with another card(i.e. more memory)? Im not a verizon user, but crap like this irks me, very jobsian move if all this stuff is true..
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Moose, it’s an SD card and they are throwing it in for free. You can buy your own 32gb card if you wanted. They are just too cheap to spring for anything good. But hey, the stupid people will go “hey, look, 8gb will fit my entire Beejees collection. That is a heck of a deal! Wow, that iPhone sucks.”
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BG,
you continue to express your hatred for Verizon very well. You start complaining about the “included” 8GB removable memory, this is great, considering that that one of the 2 Iphone 3G versions is also 8GB, but this one is expandable, and removable. Also, we don’t know what the internal memory amount is yet.
Then you decide to take shots at the fact that the U.S one with CDMA and GSM is called a different name than the one with just GSM? That doesn’t seem like a big deal at all, and is actually good in that it differentiates between the 2 models, one meant for the U.S, and the other, not. Not sure why you chose to complain about that too…ooops, yes I am, actually, I am sure, anything you can find to critize Verizon with, you’ll say. Excellent job as always.
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@The One
It’s just a cheap fix to try and make people happy. It costs them what, $2? Also, Verizon, in my opinion, has the best cell network in the country. So, we might be a little harsh sometimes, but there is definitely Verizon love. Just not when it comes to touch screen BlackBerrys when most of Verizon’s BlackBerry users are all corporate users who have no interest in a touch screen device. If this was a lifetime exclusive with Verizon as RIM was originally planning, it would have been an epic fail. As far as the name, it’s just stupid. They continually confuse consumers (RIM), and honestly, there is no point. One name. One device. Unless the Thunder doesn’t have CDMA, then that’s ok. But I haven’t heard anything about that.
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Thanx for the clarification MadMike..
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Ok, I’m all for company’s trying new things …but blackberry’s O.S. G.U.I sucks. I work for att and am currently testing out the Bold, which is a really great phone btw. But I can’t imagine using their software for a touchscreen handset. Does it bother anyone else that we haven’t even gotten a sneak peak at the UI? I mean, what if it is really just 4.6 with support for touch screen?! That will be the biggest flop ever!
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@BG,
I consider an included 8 GB memory card “better” than 8GB included, but not expandable memory on the 8GB Iphone 3G. That means, the Storm already has equal memory, but it is more convenient, and can be upgraded. Also, again, do you know what the internal memory is for the Storm yet?
And why would you criticize a touch screen blackberry? Blackberry is already the world’s number one selling smartphone, and obviously the touch screen is extremely popular, so that would seem like a possible match made in heaven if the touch screen and blackberry features are done right.
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This kind of info is the reason I hit up BG’s website 3 or 4+ times a day.
And so do the rest of you…
Thanks BG, you are the original scoopster!!
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BG…..
The name? who cares!! Anybody who’s confused is an idiot. When i go to the store to buy the phone is there gonna be a thunder and storm available here in LA? NO…so therefore i’m not gonna be confused about what i’m buying. They confused you, and everyone else who’s trying to get the inside story.
As far as expanding beyond their Verizon User base? Are you kidding me? Gee I wonder why a company would try to expand beyond its current customer base. To make more money, and gain more consumers through a different kind of device. Why would you criticize them for going after those who want a high quality multimedia device? I have a outdated blackberry 8703e and I can’t wait to have this phone.
The SD card? Again not a huge deal. I didn’t really expect much more then this, and its nice to be able to actually remove it. I don’t know if you are as others say “an apple fanboy” but shouldn’t you be going after them for not having removable memory? As long as theirs a gig onboard then i’m fine with whatever sd card comes with it.
WiFi not included? Is that what your sources say or are you going by the box? The box doesn’t really give specs of the phone so we shall wait and see on that one. It doesn’t say anything about a camera either, but I think were all pretty sure theres one included right?
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if it weren’t for guys like you, noone would have anything to be confused about because, incase you forgot, this information isn’t supposed to be public.
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@ BG
imo it still going to fail with any carrier, blackberry’s aren’t meant to conform to today’s touch screen hype. It seem that all of verizons touch screen phones are epic fails (imo of course) with the exclusion on the WM ones. i think RIM should stick to their script of hardware keyboards and more “business esque” users. Now unless verizon has changed their game up from the other “global phones” that supported limited bands, requires you to add a global feature, AND quote from the Moto Z6c “**Only Text Messaging is available when roaming internationally.” i think this should be tagged as epic fail..
that sounded like a rant…sorry lol
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Ok, I’m definitely not trying to provoke BG more than The-One is, but I have to sort of raise my hand here and ask a question. You say that RIM continues confuse its customers with names and unless I’m mistaken, ALL of their devices have been named the same thing for the all the carriers. There’s a Pearl, there’s a Curve, and there’s a 8800 series. Where’s the confusion?
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no wi-fi? fail. the instict all over again.
how do you expect to compete with the iphone without wi-fi?
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Something no one’s mentioned yet is that it doesn’t say 8 gb sd card, it says 8 gb microsd card. Unless I’m mistaken, 8gb is the highest capacity sd card you can buy today. Just like everyone else, I’d like more, but it’s hard to vault VZW for including the biggest card on the market, and still leaving you the option to expand when larger capacities are available.
That said, it remains to be seen whether RIM has pulled the touchscreen off or not. I do feel confident that, knowing how much Verizon tests its phones, this device will not be plagued with the connectivity issues that the Bold and iPhone 3g have seen.
Red
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make that “highest capacity MICROsd card you can buy today.”
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@WickedRabbit
Well, you are correct. The name was the same mostly, but that was actually the issue. I can’t tell you how many people were annoyed that the devices contained different features. Full list?
BlackBerry Pearl
8100 (no GPS, no Wi-Fi, camera)
8110 (GPS, no Wi-Fi, camera)
8120 (no GPS, Wi-Fi, camera)
8130 (GPS, no Wi-Fi, camera)
BlackBerry 8800
8800 (GPS, no Wi-Fi, no camera)
8820 (GPS, Wi-Fi, no camera)
8830 (GPS, no Wi-Fi, no camera, international GSM support)
BlackBerry Curve
8300 (no GPS, no Wi-Fi, camera)
8310 (GPS, no Wi-Fi, camera)
8320 (no GPS, Wi-Fi, camera)
8330 (GPS, no Wi-Fi, camera)
10 devices that, except for the Pearl 2, were all the same names. That’s just ridiculous. Add in the 9000, 9200, 8210, 8220, 9530, 9500, and whatever else they are cooking up, and it becomes more than ridiculous. Again, just my opinion. But enough with the carrier-mandated crap. One phone, same features. Who else does this?
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@jayjay
you know that there are always those people that buy off of ebay and when the they see Thunder/Storm and GSM/CDMA and UNLOCKED…but wait if you buy it for gsm and it “may” come with CDMA who will let you activate it……so yeah idk all i can say is EPIC FAIL
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@hipkik
Didn’t really think of Ebay….but anybody who buys off there should be doing research on what their buying anyway. If your gonna buy a $400-700 phone you should know your stuff before doing it.
EPIC FAIL? Really? From a box and scattered specs? lol
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To all the negative moaning and complaining lookers.
BG beats every body by the hour. Without BG you would be oblivius of what happening. And don’t tell me you don’t need BG. Because you are here! You come here just to peek and feed your hungry appetite and when it is given to you, you just vomit.
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