AT&T to potential BlackBerry Storm customers: Storm sucks, iPhone rulez!
You definitely have to take this one at face value, but there’s an internal document floating around inside AT&T pitting the iPhone 3G against the upcoming BlackBerry Storm. We had our doubts about this document at first, but we received it from two independent sources now, so it’s legit! Here’s some of the smack-talking AT&T lays down:
- The Storm doesn’t have multi-touch
- There’s no Wi-Fi
- The Storm doesn’t have an App Store
- Stormy Storm doesn’t have tri-band HSDPA
- The browser sucks on the Storm
- No iTunes action (movies, music, etc.)
Yeah yeah, we know you can sync your BlackBerry with DRM-free music in iTunes so don’t get your panties in a bunch over that line. We think legitimate points so far, but the browser hasn’t been tested and tri-band HSDPA doesn’t matter if you’re not using the device on AT&T in the United States. Peanut gallery, you’re up!
Thanks, AT&T ninjas!
Tags: app store, AT&T, BlackBerry, HSDPA, iphone 3g, itunes, multi-touch, storm, thunder, Wi-Fi
Only the iPhone has multi-touch. Multi-touch and touch are hugely different.
Also the App Store has nearly 3,900 apps and surpassed 2,500 a while ago so I wonder when this was written.
Permalink | Reply
No different than the several times Verizon has done exactly the same thing to compete with the iPhone. Two years later they still have no iPhone killer, not even an iPhone equivalent.
Permalink | Reply
Evilhomer sure has a lot of posts on this blog to be calling someone a fanboy. I have never owned either a blackberry or an iphone but I have played with both before. You can cry sourgrapes all you want and try to defend AT&T but at the end of the day their service sucks. You went on the rant about how Verizon claims to be the network and doesn’t care if they sell you crappy phones. Well apparently it is either the cosumers don’t really care and still stick around or their phones are really not that bad. Second, they are THE NETWORK for a reason, you can’t have a phone company and not strive to be the best. Your idiotic viewpoint of Verizon only focusing on service and reliability is well beyond me. If you have th best phone in the world, as you and your king claim the Iphone to be and can’t make calls with it that won’t drop every 10 minutes or a 3G access that can actually work so you will get to use your gps then what is the point?
No matter what you have to say you’re an idiot for thinking that the network is not what makes the phone company but rather the phones. it is A PHONE COMPANY! If that was the case then why not just get an itouch since they both do the same thing. And while we’re at it, you and I both know the iphone is not touching blackberry when it comes ot e-mail I won’t sit here and not credit apple for the excellent job they did on the iphone’s UI but honestly aside from that there is really nothing new that phone brought to the table. It revolutionized the touch screen market but has no features that make it worth a purchase. My flip phone from 2005 has simple features the so called next gen iphone doesn’t and it is in it’s second stage. You can’t say that’s not true, with the obvious being copy/paste, sending a damn picture message and recording video. Please answer why they put a damn camera in the iphone in the first place. Not only is it not that good but what it the purpose of taking pictures if you can’t share it. That is the purpose of a camera, period.
AND we all know the only reason why the iphone has sold so much and done so well is not because it was the best product in the world. Apple has a cult fanboy following that will buy its products even if it was on T-emporary MOBILE or Cricket. Again, I repeat the UI and design (which they took from the LG Prada designed years before the Iphone btw) is a thing of marvel but the only reason for it’s high sales is simply because of apple fanboys. I don’t know about you but I’d be pretty upset walking around with a damn phone that looks like everyone else’s mp3 player.
Permalink | Reply
@Likeabite who said:
“…and try to defend AT&T but at the end of the day their service sucks.”
“Apple has a cult fanboy following that will buy its products even if it was on T-emporary MOBILE or Cricket.”
“Again, I repeat the UI and design (which they took from the LG Prada designed years before the Iphone btw)”
———————————————————————————
Ask daddy if he is old enough to remember this, circa 1993: http://www.portaclub.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/250px-apple_newton_mp100.jpg
Are you an adult*?
*Adult, as defined by cognitive ability and emotional IQ, _not_ by age.
Permalink | Reply
BB has html email…
Permalink | Reply
Are you serious? VZW Does cater to the international/global needs of users … i.e. the Blackberry 8830 with GLOBAL Data plan (UNLIMITED Data while traveling where its avail, CDMA and GSM Counries)… Yes the device list is slim but its there. Please people do research and know what you are talking about before posting.
Permalink | Reply
iPhone email sucks compared to BB.. also where’s the iphone’s video capability? (without jail breaking your phone)..
iPhone wins out in one spot.. hype
Permalink | Reply
@Likeabite: You are the idiot. I never said that a phone makes the company and not the network. My point is that, for the MAJORITY of the consumer market, there is not enough difference between the AT&T and VZW networks to matter, so then it DOES become about the phones. I live in an area where AT&T and VZW’s network is great. So why then would I buy a VZW crippled device with their craptastic UI when I can have not only an iPhone but any other unlocked GSM device that I like? Like the N95 or the E71? I have both. If you live in an area where VZW has the best signal and AT&T doesn’t work, then you’d be crazy to go with AT&T and vice versa. The point is though, they are both equally good networks. If VZW’s network was vastly and overwhelmingly superior to AT&T’s in the majority of the marketplace then wouldn’t VZW have three times more customers? They don’t. Or even twice as many. They won’t even have twice as many when they buy more market share.
As for your comment that Apple fan boys are the ones driving the sales of the iPhone, again you are just flat wrong. Of course many Apple customers know Apple quality and are going to purchase the iPhone, but the majority of iPhone users are not Mac users. Actually, after using the iPhone, many of the customers are ditching their PC’s for Macs. Check out the recent decline in Windows users and increase in Mac sales. It seems you have it backwards.
@Backbeat: Dead on Brother! I can’t believe the punks on here that act as if LG invented the touch screen. Those are the same idiots that believe that Microsoft invented the web browser and that Al Gore invented the internet.
Permalink | Reply
Which is the most fundamental function of a Mobile OS?
- X = Close App
- Copy/Paste
- MMS
Someone with a spine from the flamethrowing side should really speak up and quell their more mouthy, undisciplined shotgunners. They do not do their ’cause’ an atom of justice.
Permalink | Reply
the picture above isnt even of a phone. That is the apple Newton which was goin to try to become the next big thing in personal computing but failed miserably and was just like any other PDA of its time. There have been touchscreen PDAs for a long time so all of them should take the credit for apple stealing their ideas for the iphone. It seems unbelieveably biased on here towards the ATT network and apple. I come to BGR to check on new information, and you only ever have stuff after its already been leaked. And why does everyone have a hatred of the verizon network?? huh? your all just to jealous of the fact that you may have you iphone, but you cant use it at home. i seriously considered changing to ATT to get the iphone but remained on verizon, because while i was playin with the iphone in an att store, i could not get a 3g connection. That was my deciding factor. Right now i am remaining on the verizon network, and cannot wait for the storm to be released, because even if it doest do everything the iphone does, it fits my purpses much better than what the iphone would do for me.
I think that the storm will be a great device and the fact that it has all verizon’s features such as pic messaging and video messaging with a combined 3.2 megapixle camera. also having a full browser comperable to the iphones. the dare doesnt have multitouch either, but i found browsing on that device to be fine. so why should i expect less from the storm. Maybe its interface will be easier to use than the iphones multi touch. Stop ragging on the storm until you have seen it for yourself. also i agree with the fact that if you are picking up a wifi signal. more than likley you have a computer near you. who in their right mind would drive to a mcdonalds to use their internet instead of using the network carrier’s? Ill tell you who. The people who are on carries that dont want their signal dropped and not be able to accomplish anything. Im betting that the storm releases after the 20th of october that way people have the chance to preview the device before they jump into a contract with something they dont like
Permalink | Reply
@ Chris
BlackBerry has international Data plans which are extremely reasonable with unlimited data @ $69.99/mo
Permalink | Reply
The irony of this release document is that AT&T will be carrying similar devices from RIM once verizon has their run. Companies will do what ever they can do to down play and slow sales of another carriers exclusive device. Every US carrier has documents talking down the iPhone (remember BGRs verizon document?)It is a tactic to “scare” consumers and get them to stick with their exclusive devices. People will still be fighting over what phone is better even if one could give you a h*#n job. AT&T will be talking up their touch BB as soon as they carry it, face it, everyone talks crap about the other guys toys, envy.
Permalink | Reply
There are a lot good points on here, and a lot of well not so good ones. To get it out of the way I have a BlackBerry Curve. I carry two phones, one work and one personal and at this point I know that one of them will always be a BlackBerry.
I have sampled the iPhone pretty heavily and I’ll admit the “cool” factor is pretty high, but the everyday for all my uses phone factor it’s very low. It would be a sweet secondary phone (for me at least). I firmly believe that variety is the spice of life. If I had at&t I know the two phones I’d carry, the problem I have is that I use Verizon. Not that I really see that as a problem. The service is excellent. It’s the exclusive factor Apple decided to impliment. I feel like they could’ve sold quite a few more devices making the iPhone available on more than just one network, and not the best one in my opinion.
I’m pretty excited at the idea of the Storm. I feel like a lot of people have the wrong idea putting this phone against the iPhone in terms of out right features. The OS makes the phone no matter the form factor. I see it more as RIM thinking outside their box, and be willing to offer something to a customer base they have all but completely ignored. Certainly we can thank Apple for giving the industry a kick in the pants. Google as well. People are tired of being funneled into neat categories. With all the features on cell phones we can hardly call them phones anymore. They are more like life style accessories, and we all want one that will most accurately fit as many of our needs as possible. So if Apple doesn’t think you need MMS they cut you off from something you use and if RIM leaves out WiFi they alienate a certain crowd.
If you really want to talk competition let’s look at what RIM offers verses Apple. Apple has one phone and one form factor. While RIM has a few varients. And more to come for all we know.
Lastly in terms of the potential success or failure of the Storm will largely depend on build quality. The touch screen needs to be top notch, and it’s processing needs to be speedy. Knowing RIM of late this phone will deliver where it counts. I can remember a few years back when people thought the Pearl was a “stupid” idea. The kind of stupid idea that has propelled them to the number three smart phone manufacturer spot.
There isn’t a feature RIM has come up with that has wiped their competition off the face of the planet. And Apple hasn’t made a product that can single handedly convert all other smart phone users.
So cheers to competition!
Permalink | Reply
@Chris:
You _are_ old enough to realize that PDAs were created before smartphones, correct? You’re also, therefore, smart enough to realize that the inclusion of a cell radio within a PDA, in addition to further OS development, created the smartphone? Therefore, you realize that the user interface of smartphones has not changed much since the beginning, until Apple did its thing with multitouch and a _much_ more refined OS which encourages the users’ input, rather than challenges it.
The original layout of the interface was created by Apple, regardless of how much the online kiddies can’t bring themselves to accept. If it had been left to Microsoft, their entire interface would’ve been centered around DOS, given that they had to ‘borrow’ Apple’s graphic GUI to create Windows in the first place. Sad, but true*.
This, from the perspective of one who only owns one Apple product, a 2-year old Shuffle.
If you do not like BGR, there are plenty of techno sites on the interwebs. Go explore them and give yourself some peace.
Permalink | Reply
@Chris/prChris:
btw - Apple was 3 years ahead of any competition regarding PDA development and release. Check your bias at the door when you enter here. The Newton was also a sales (and operational) success, otherwise, why would USRobotics/3Com/Palm have tried to copy it’s graphical design several years later?
Permalink | Reply
A ton of spirited arguments out there. I am a card-carrying Verizon supporter. Their network has never let me down as other networks struggled to hold calls and signal.
However, the iphone is a great device. I was curious tried it out and love it despite some quirks and missing functions. The UI is tremendous and the browser is money (except for no flash). It truly did revolutionize the industry, otherwise these other competitors wouldn’t have released all these other touchscreen devices. I bought a 2g model and used it like an Ipod Touch. Sold it cause I didn’t want to carry a phone and an Ipod.
AT&T service is terrible and if you need proof search this site, engadget, cnet, etc for proof. I did, because I really wanted to use the Iphone. But complaints about dropped calls and having to turn off 3g for better reception scared the shit out of me.
If Verizon didn’t decline the Iphone (they had first choice from Apple), they would have destroyed all other carriers. It was a dumb move by Verizon. You can’t unlock CDMA devices. Their market share would be out of this world.
QUESTION TO ALL AT&T LOVERS: Why did Apple go to Verizon first? They knew what network was best.
The bottom line is, the Iphone on AT&T is like dating a stripper. Looks great and is wonderful to play with but she isn’t reliable and you wouldn’t trust her with your money.
Permalink | Reply
inc Said:
Are you serious? VZW Does cater to the international/global needs of users … i.e. the Blackberry 8830 with GLOBAL Data plan (UNLIMITED Data while traveling where its avail, CDMA and GSM Counries)… Yes the device list is slim but its there. Please people do research and know what you are talking about before posting.
If you were referring to my comment I never said that they DIDN’T offer a global device only that they offered ONE device. That’s not exactly “catering” to the international traveler in my book.
@nickjoedotcom: You really want to compare the number of products offered by RIM, who’s been in the phone game for years, against Apple’s offerings, who’s only been in the phone game for just over a year? Christ! How many YEARS did it take to get a BB with Wifi. Or GPS. Or BOTH for Christ’s sake?? You are correct. With RIM you can choose to have GPS. Or choose to have Wifi. Problem is you can’t choose to have both. They JUST released a GSM version (Bold) that actually has 3G. Apple has done all that and then delivered corporate PIM and push mail functionality via Exchange in just a year. I doubt that you’d even see all this “new” technology in your RIM devices if it wasn’t for the fierce competition offered by Apple with the iPhone. Any of you that do wind up enjoying your Storm, you might want to give a nod of thanks over to Apple.
Permalink | Reply
Why dont you guys do like I did. I have an iphone 3G and a BBerry. Ill get the Storm when it comes out cause I know it will work as a communications device when I need it to. I work in Brooklyn heights (where the GPS signal was on the first 3G commercial) but cant get a reliable 3G signal or GPS location on the iphone, not apples fault though. the UI is the best on a phone and will be even with the storm, but seems a little amateur to me as far as options about mail and communications( just my opinion). the thing i love about the berry is the BB messenger, my friends and colleagues have it and you can send pics, vids, contact info from device to device, not so with the iphone. As an individual the iphone is better because of the user centric services, as a comm tool tho (between phones or email or IM) the berry wins. I also have Google apps on my berry and it syncs with my gcal and ical (and other services) the same as mobile me. i dunno, just bored and got both, and figured id share
Permalink | Reply
@ Apple fan boys:
1. Storm can do mms, the Iphone can’t
2. Storm can upgrade it’s memory through upcoming 16GB micro sd cards or more. If you have the Iphone 8gb or 16gb and run out of memory, you don’t have a memory upgrade option.
3. Storm will have a tethering option
4. Storm will have stereo bluetooth, Iphone doesn’t
5. Storm has copy n paste, Iphone doesn’t
6. Storm can also connect through itunes, as my Curve can also do that.
7. Storm has agps for Voice Activated Turn by turn directions, Iphone does not.
Oh yeah, and don’t forget removable battery, CDMA and GSM capability, capacative and resistive interface, and native video recording capability, none of which the iPhone
has.
Permalink | Reply
<>
Yeah! And probably the same idiots who believe that Apple invented the GUI!
Permalink | Reply
^ Yet, since you’ve never _used_ this new OS interface from BB, you have _zero_ idea if it is as clucky-mechanical as current renditions or is fluid ala iPhone. Although the BB’s foundation is solid, it’s nearly impossible to develop any refinement into any 3rd-party app.
Features, as you describe them, is a give and take proposition, _as we both know_. Yet, the difference is … Only non-fanboys of any company can admit it. Nice try, junior.
Permalink | Reply
I believe an app store is more of a hindrance. Apple has full control over what you put on your phone. They have already shown that apps they feel are competition will never make it to the store. So you must find a video converter to convert avis to mp4s, instead of simply installing a different multimedia player.
Have multiple email accounts on the same server? well the blackberry’s native mail client then tromps the iphones.
From what i hear, any browser that crashes the phone every 10 minutes cannot be considered ‘the best browser’ on a mobile phone. If apple spends some time, gives the browser flash, and works the bugs out, then perhaps it will be able to take that title.
Permalink | Reply
I used to think that one of the most ridiculous arguments/fights ever was the “my god is better than your god” argument (ie: Muslims and Jews.)
Then I read this thread.
Permalink | Reply
For everyone saying this is no big deal because Verizon, Sprint, etc. have done this over and over comparing their latest and greatest to the iPhone:
That is to be expected, the iPhone is the top dog and the device that had tons of hype and draw to it. The competitors NEEDED to say, “Look we have something comparable… you don’t need to go to ATT to get that.”
But, did you ever see ATT produce documents like this for the Voyager, Instinct, HTC Touch, or every other iPhone wannabe since its release?? No, because they didn’t have to and had no reason to worry because they all fell far short.
For ATT to make a pre-emptive strike against an unreleased phone says to me they are worried, and from the looks of it they have reason to be. Corporations are where the REAL money is to be made… and because of the popularity of the iPhone it was beginning to make a push into that segment. Blackberry has the better reputation there, and if it can steal the cool factor away from the iPhone and keep its corporate friendly reputation… that puts a serious halt on that penetration. It will also take the perception away from the iPhone that it is the ONLY consumer-friendly do it all device available, and will allow RIM to keep or expand their lead in the Smartphone game. With ATT aligning itself tightly with Apple and Verizon apparently pushing hard with RIM with this device as an exclusive it could get to be an ugly battle.
Permalink | Reply
I find is so funny how people are already saying this device (Storm) is not an apple beater. First off lets get our paws on it and play around with it. Second of all for al you iPhone fanatics…send me a picture/video message of, well, anything! The iphone is a very sexy device and does many things well but I have no idea what took them so long to do sync’d email and when the heck are you going to be able to send me a vid or pic? Wifi is not designed for mobile devices IMO. Defeats the purpose of carrying a mobile in the first place and sucks up too much battery.
Permalink | Reply