BlackBerry Storm hitting Verizon on November 24th, pre-launch on 20th?
We just got our hands on this document detailing the latest release dates for the Storm on Verizon. Just be careful, we have all learned that target launch dates come and go quicker than a Sprint subscriber. With that said, this information comes directly from a good source of ours, so we’d wager on this being pretty accurate. Here’s what we’ve learned:
- 123 corporate Verizon stores will be “pre-launching” the device on November 20th. That means that the 123 stores will have Storms in stock to demo for customers and to pre-order the device for them. This is only for high-end VZW customers, and people that got the mailing that went out. The general public, as we’re informed, can not just “mosey on down.”
- November 24th (and November 25th?) is the general availability date which includes corporate sales, telesales, and indirect dealers.
The confirmed pricing for the BlackBerry Storm is indeed dude, we’ve been saying this foreverz around $199.99 after MIR with a two-year agreement. We were also told that corporate store inventory will be full, full, and full of Storms. Apparently, our tipster tells us that the latest build of the unit is incredibly stable, and touch input is very much improved. So, there ya go! Let’s hope this pans out… Verizon really needs to make a Thanksgiving launch. Larger size shot is after the jump.
Thanks, NotHTCKid!
@ The One,
He might not be Neo but he is The One; nice job of putting things in “perspective”.
will it be better than the 3g Iphone
If I am an existing VZW customer who is not up for a phone refresh until June, what would this cost me? I’ve seen it rumored $520 without a subsidy.
Which begs the question, could I cancel my VZW account for $115 (Or some prorated amount), then buy the Storm at the $215 price point as a new customer? This would get me the phone for $330, which is far cheaper than $520. What is stopping me from doing that?
Just got off the phone with the Verizon rep and he confirmed the 24th as launch date but he couldn’t confirm price.
The Direct Fulfillment line is catching my eye. Doesn’t that term normally point to them having units available for sale at the time of the event as opposed to just being available for preorder?
BBForums – http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-9500-series-discussion-storm/158822-verizon-blackberry-storm-private-sale.html
Looks like they might be available Friday the 21st
“Got the call just 30 minutes ago.
He told me that I could order Thursday and get it Monday or could wait and Friday is when they will be selling them at the store.”
This is great news.
Rondo, that is how I am reading it too. It would make sense to have devices on hand to sell to these special early customers. There is no mention of pre-order, just direct fulfillment if they have the devices in time (the pending part).
Perspective, You seem to be a smart guy? Look at the AT&T coverage map, it is full of holes. Ever ride a motorcycle to the Sturgis Ralley? Like to see Mt. Rushmore or the Crazy Horse? Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming? General Custer battlefield? GSM is not used much in this part of the world. No love from ATT or TMO. There are a few gsm towers to roam off of but every time I have a “gsm” friend stop in town the first thing they complain about is lack of service and missed calls. More bars in more places. That line only works if you travel out of the country.
Iphone might be a great device. I here its not the best phone for phone call quality. I have 15 days of talk time on my 8130 and the call quality is by far the best of any phone. rim hits it out of the park on that account. Battery life is also critical. A dead phone is an expensive parer weight.
You have had a couple of years to show off your toy, i sure hope you did not fork over the $500 apple asked for the first time around just to turn around and up grade a few months later for a more expensive data package. Oh I forgot the $100 credit made it all better.
Rondo, Agreed. It makes more sense to release them prior to the weekend (11/20 or 21) instead of on a Monday 11/24 or Tuesday 11/25.
i think its BS that vodafone customers get the phone for free and verizon’s have to pay. i was holding out to switch from tmobile (contract is up). just for that i’m getting the iphone.
ANYONE WANT NYC STORM HUNT CODES? I HAVE 14
@ jim
hmm…. mad that one phone is not free and as a result you will go elsewhere to pay for another phone? yeah, that sounds about right.
Perspective? You sound like Paul, or Evilhomer, or Bob, or hellno, or onoshedidnt, or Geewiz, or etc…
@bluehorseshoe,
Dont think it was Paul. This guy didn’t do a 500 word rant about the Storm not having Wi-Fi.
@ ddowell
LOL! You may be right. I wish I had access to the IP addresses to confirm.
Poor, poor ignorant Stormy.
If you cancel your contract they take your phone number with you. But besides that (and that’s a big deal for a lot of people), you can cancel, pay the ETF, and sign up again.
This release date is horrible. The week of Thanksgiving? Really? It’s setting Verizon/RIM and consumers up for FAIL.
First, people are very busy in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, so sales will be depressed, and people will think it’s a result of the inferiority of the product instead of the timing of the release. FAIL for Verizon/RIM.
And there won’t be a lower Black Friday price because the phone is too new, so FAIL for consumers too. (Last year I got my Tilt for $150 off on Black Friday.)
Actually the week of Thanksgiving is NOT necessarily a bad week to release the Storm. There will be MANY people who have that who week off whether by choice or attrition & that will actually mean big numbers in terms of potential buyers. The 24th is a Monday, that gives people the entire week to purchase their Storms. My one hope is to order it online Sunday night & have it in hand by Tuesday.
Direct fulfillment means ordering from the warehouse and having it shipped. Direct from the warehouse to the customer. It doesn’t mean it’ll be available on hand.
@Who?
You think Thanksgiving week is a bad week for sales? Seriously?
Last year the Voyager was released the day before Thanksgiving and didn’t come back in store stock until last week of January. I don’t think sales will “FAIL.”
Posted from BGR Mobile from: Cupertino CA, 95014
@TBG Why do you use the word “Apparently” ahead of this statement: “…our tipster tells us that the latest build of the unit is incredibly stable, and touch input is very much improved. “????
Either he told you this or he didn’t. IF this guy is as reliable as you say, then this is a huge slap in the face for those who claimed that the Storm was going to suck because of the lag.
If I had to guess, the most probable reason for the use of the word “apparently” is that you just cannot wrap your mind around the possibility that the Storm would actually be as quick and responsive as it is in the ads and therefore had to throw in the word apparently just to minimize this possibility–even though there is nothing APPARENT about the statement itself…..LOL!! Funny how your mind works…..LMAO!
Anyone have a link to a positive review? Is anyone who has used this device excited about it?
http://greatsnipe.wordpress.com/2008/11/12/storm-prepare-to-be-underwhelmed/
I recieved a mailer from Verizon Wireless for a private sale on Nov 17-21 and the Storm was included.