Verizon Wireless Blackberry Storm to retail for $219 with a 2 year contract
The Blackberry Storm hit the Verizon Wireless staging testman website with pricing and details! It’s coming in about where we expected – $219 with a 2 year contract, $289 with a 1 year contract and whopping $519 for full retail. Remember, this is just the staging site so it’s entirely possible that things will change. In fact, the price does not include any rebates or New Every Two discounts so the final price out the door on the launch date will surely be lower. Sweet! Unfortunately, the page does not contain a release date but we expect a formal announcement from Verizon very soon now that it’s up on the test site. Check out the read link to see for yourself (enter 85001 as your zip) and hit the jump for some more screen shots showing the 1-year and full retail pricing.
Thanks, Matrix 2004!
[Via Howard Forums]
bluehorseshoe Said:
@ EvilHomer
I apologize for forgetting…
Paul = Keymaker = GeeWiz = hellno = onoshedidnt = Bob = EVILHOMER
Again…sorry for leaving one of your other multiple personalities out of the equation.
___________________________________________
Is that coming from bluehorseshoe or DouchBag…?? You both sound the same to me…
@likeabite
I’m part of the 99% that don’t care about Wifi… lol. I get your point, just be careful. People around here seem to be serious about their statistics. Especially when you use Ascii characters between codes 33 and 63. LOL
@Anonymous loser
Yes! Because wifi capabilities won’t matter if your phone won’t turn on (drained battery). lol
It’s funny that people say that 99% of the wireless users don’t care about wifi but when talking about the iPhone, some of you think 100% of the people in the world can’t get by without MMS?
I’ll take the ability to use free, fast wifi over sending crappy resolution pics pics to people for a fee. Better yet, I can email them for free.
@ bluehorseshoe I guess Evilhomer felt left out so he had to comment so you wouldn’t add him to the 5 stooges.
@ Evilhomer I already addressed what I meant sir…you’re kind of late to the party so why don’t you read all the comments before commenting. You’re smarter than the comment you just made as I’ve already told you on another post. Paul is just an idiot because his own claims refute his arguments. He always hails the fact that Verizon only has one Wifi phone and that is precisely my point. They are now the biggest carrier if we speed up the Alltel process and even w/o them they’re #2. None of their blackberries have ever had Wifi and that has not stopped businessmen and travelers from buying the shit or else they would stop selling blackberries if no one bought it from them. Their only Wifi phone is the 6800 and even that is their priciest item so out of their over 80 million costumers if they haven’t lost costumers and always gain as stats have showed then Wifi must not be a make or break for their handsets. Which then proves my point that Wifi not being in this blackberry would only be a dealbreaker for about only 1% of the travelers who want to do VOIP/tether/go on the internet. Aside from the latter how many ordinary cosumers do you know are capable of doing such tasks? That is the point I was alluding to in case you missed it. That is why Paul and Geewiz have been grouped in the same idiotic boat for their asinine comments. At least you realize that the pricing is not outrageous since two phones they already offer and have been out for about two years will be more expensive than it. And the MMS issue also you’re right…it is not a dealbreaker but just like the Wifi issue in this phone some have an essential need for it, some don’t.
@ BG thanks for the correction.
@Likeabite: If you are referring about my post on your stats, I posted those before you stated that you were just making up the stats for effect. When dealing in a forum full of ubergeeks, it’s a bad idea to throw out bad statistics even in jest. I apologize if I came down too hard on you were just joking. There are many people that post crap stats to prove a point they can’t do with real ones.
As far as bluehorseshoe goes, I’m sick of him outright accusing me of posting under several other aliases. He has outright accused me personally, so he pretty much asked for it from me. I’ve never posted as a AT&T or iPhone fanboy, although I am, like the BG team in general, flamed as one every time I mention the iPhone or AT&T. I like the iPhone and great great service from AT&T. However, I do plan on getting a Storm and will have it on the first day of release. I have a corporate account with VZW for several of our employees and currently use a VZW aircard now with my MacBook Pro.
So I’m tired of getting lumped in with the hate posters. I neither love or hate any carrier or devices. They are all tools to me, and I use whatever tool gets the job done for me. I don’t have some misplaced loyalty to any carrier or device. Like everyone else, I have my favorite devices, but that changes pretty much every time a new one is released..
If the fanboys want to act like a bunch of “groupies” for a carrier, that’s them. I just don’t want to be lumped into them on either side of the fence.
not too cause too much of a stir but vzw is not that bad with WiFi on their Windows Mobile phones. The Samsung i730 and i760 both had Wi-Fi as well as the xv6800. All the new WinMo phones slated for release (i770, xv6850, and Omnia) are all supposed to have Wi-Fi as well.
The CDMA blackberrys in general have not had Wi-Fi. I dont believe any of the Sprint blackberrys have Wi-Fi either but not being a sprint customer I am not 100% sure on that.
@ Evilhomer I understand your perspective that’s why I did not come at you for what you said.
@ Kelly thanks for that…now if they still have 80 million customers without Wifi then they are not deal breakers don’t you think? Plus they have a whole onslaught of Wifi phones on the way for those in dire need.
I’m one of those people where no MMS would HAVE been a deal-breaker. I would PREFER to have Wi-fi but would that stop me from owning the World’s first touchscreen blackberry? CERTAINLY NOT!!! I hope the price is the same as the iPhone & they need to hurry up & get this release ASAP, people are getting frustrated with the release already!!!
Just got off the phone with VZW and gave the rep a big song and dance about how I wanted to switch to Verizon and the storm from ATT. I told him my bill cycle was ending soon and wanted to switch before it was up. We went on and on about this for about 10 min until he took it upon himself to ask me if they got the storm in on or before the 18th would it make a difference in me being able to switch in regards to my bill cycle date….Now everyone knows that if you are mid contract and decide to cancel then they will in effect just bill you the ETF and whatever taxes and that month in advance charge from when the contract started basically becomes a wash. He took my contact info down and told me he would call me when it comes in to get the process going…..Once he was done I told him that I made no mention of my when my bill cycle was ending, just that it was soon and I wanted to switch….When I told him this and asked why the on or before the 18th he kept fumbling with his words and kept saying I’ll call when its out….Not saying that I believe him, but it was weird for him to ask me if it would make a difference it it was released during on or before that day. I know everyone has been posting about their tele sales calls and who said what at what hour and on what day, but give it a try and see if they slip up again.
@Kelly: Up until the Bold and and Storm, wifi on Blackberry’s was useless because of the slow processors that were built into them. I believe that BGR actually did some speed tests with two BB’s, one using EDGE and the other using wifi and the EDGE won out our wifi every time.
As far as VZW allowing wifi on those WinMo devices you are correct. I had an I730. However, if I remember correctly, on many of those devices, you had to install a hack to run wifi without turning off the voice and data radio. You could not run them simultaneously. So, even though they have allowed wifi on those devices, there was still some sort of limitation. Which is really the only thing that’s bugged me about VZW. If that has changed in the last couple of years then I don’t know because I haven’t used them, but that’s the way it was with the last wifi enabled smartphone that I had on Big Red.
@Evilhomer
The i760 had the ability to which on and off bluetooth (of course), wifi and data/voice separately. In other words you could run all of then together if you wanted (without a hack). Also, if I can remember correctly, you could have the phone prefer wifi over data is you wanted to.
People that travel overseas for business, maybe. They’re the target audience for this device, and if their employer doesn’t pay for the overseas data charges who wants to pay Verizon through the roof for international data? I dumped Verizon once the Storm specs came out and it didn’t have WiFi. I travel to Europe a lot and used the WiFi on my XV6700. Now I have a BB Bold and I can use data for free overseas with the WiFi.
Go try to use your precious Verizon phone in Europe. Unless it’s a BB 8830 or Z6W it won’t work.
@Perl: That’s cool. I didn’t get that phone. Actually, I was going to try it at one point awhile back but my corporate rep advised against it saying that it has some “issues”. If I remember correctly, the last WinMo phone I had on VZW was an i730.
Never mind the VZW issue…….we in Australia are unable to get the Storm unless we go over to Vodafone.Their coverage sucks. Anyone have an idea on the length of their worldwide exclusivity?
@Evil Homer
I have had an i760 and the xv6800 and the Wifi was not pretty. I cant remember for sure, but I think you are correct in that if you used Wi-Fi you could not accept an incoming call. They definitely did not switch dynamically between WiFi and cellular signal like some of the new phones can do.
Truthfully, I hardly ever used Wi-Fi b/c I almost always have a cell signal and the wifi was a battery drain.
Nonetheless, I would like to have Wi-Fi on a WinMo phone because you can use software to make them function like a wi-fi hotspot. Instead of using bluetooth to tether, you can use wifi.
@ Perl Monk deux
thanks for the info on the i760. I didn’t read it before I posted. it has been so long since I used either of those phones…it is tough to remember what each one can and cant do. Not to mention the fact, that I only had each one briefly before i moved onto something else.
I would like to try out one of the new WinMo phones with WiFi to see how well the whole wifi hotspot software works.
@Kelly: You just reminded me. My last WnMo phone on VZW was a XV6700. You did have to turn off the wifi to make and receive calls. I had to to a registry edit in order to correct that. And you are correct. The wifi toll on the battery was so bad that I could almost watch the battery meter move to the left when using it.
The argument on wether you need wifi or not is just dumb because it’s so relevant. If you depend on wifi then no one is going to argue you into NOT needing it. People shouldn’t be flamed for being disappointed that the Storm doesn’t have it. It just means that they really wanted the device but may have to pass because wifi is high on their wants/needs list. There is nothing wrong with expressing disappointment over that. All of this “get over it because you don’t need it” crap is just inflammatory and won’t convince anyone otherwise.
Need it or not, there is just not a really GOOD reason that it should have been left out. If you don’t need it, you leave it off and save your battery. If you do need it, it should be there. Choice, people. It’s about having the choice. That’s all we want. We don’t want to hate on Verzion or the Storm. We that need wifi want the choice to use it on a device that we want. Don’t say “just don’t buy the damn thing then and go get something else”. We don’t want something else. We want the Storm, but we want it with wifi as well. If enough say so, maybe someone will listen. Who knows?
This was a funny set of exchanges. I didn’t read most of them, but wow. Yelling about phones.
Who? Said:
This was a funny set of exchanges. I didn’t read most of them, but wow. Yelling about phones.
___________________________
You must not visit the wireless forums much. We fight like families at Thanksgiving…
I personally don’t give a crap about wifi… It’s a cell phone people, not a laptop.. 1 good phone comes out with it and the entire market is supposed to want it just because you have it? I don’t think so… You’ve gotten spoiled too much on technology if you think wifi “has” to be on every new device. Respect the technology and the time people put in to developing new things and quit bitching about which is better. If you don’t like the phone, Don’t F’ing buy it!!!!
Don’t Like Arguing Said:
I personally don’t give a crap about wifi… It’s a cell phone people, not a laptop.. 1 good phone comes out with it and the entire market is supposed to want it just because you have it? I don’t think so… You’ve gotten spoiled too much on technology if you think wifi “has” to be on every new device. Respect the technology and the time people put in to developing new things and quit bitching about which is better. If you don’t like the phone, Don’t F’ing buy it!!!!
___________________________
Spoken just like my Grandfather would have said it. The only thing missing is the word “newfangled”. Did you walk to school, in the snow, uphill, both ways too?
If you are going to argue laptop then I guess we don’t need email, web, or attachment viewing either since we can just lug the lappies around.
Evilhomer Said: I’ll take the ability to use free, fast wifi over sending crappy resolution pics pics to people for a fee. Better yet, I can email them for free.
@ Evilhomer: They wouldn’t be crappy resolution pics if you use the Storms camera for photos or video. Its only crappy on the 2MP iPhone camera.
I agree lack of wi-fi sucks. But its not as big of a deal breaker for me as it apparently is for you.
As for choice, I’m willing to give up my hardly used wi-fi on the iPhone for MMS, copy & paste ability (I really miss that), ability to edit office files, better quality camera with flash for pics & video, the great BES push system for syncing calendar contacts notes email, a usable keyboard no matter how I am holding the phone and the list goes on.
I will miss the great GUI of the iPhone and the apps. But those are less important than having a usable phone for my core needs – communication.
The point is each phone has their pluses and minuses. Lack of wi-fi is only annoying for me when I am on a plane. All other times I m not near a wi-fi spot for it to be useful.
@Anonymous: I don’t disagree with you on the choice of MMS over wifi, but since you can’t send 3.2mp photos over MMS, I doubt if the camera on the Storm would make any difference. It’s my understanding that MMS pics have a max file side of about 300k, so they get horrible compressed and distorted for sending via MMS. However, send photo via email and you don’t have that problem and don’t have to pay extra on top your data plan to do so.
Also, I wouldn’t get too excited about the 3.2mp camera on the Storm until you see them in person. I have one on my Nokia E71 and I could do better on an Etch-A-Sketch. It’s miserable. Hopefully the Storm will be better.
Ryan Said: “People that travel overseas for business, maybe. They’re the target audience for this device, and if their employer doesn’t pay for the overseas data charges who wants to pay Verizon through the roof for international data? I dumped Verizon once the Storm specs came out and it didn’t have WiFi. I travel to Europe a lot and used the WiFi on my XV6700. Now I have a BB Bold and I can use data for free overseas with the WiFi.
Go try to use your precious Verizon phone in Europe. Unless it’s a BB 8830 or Z6W it won’t work.”
@ Ryan: Verizon just released their $69.99 global data plan. That is far from through the roof international data charges for a business traveler. If you can’t afford $70/mo for overseas data then you are probably flying overseas in the cargo hold.
The Storm is a true global phone. It will work in more places than the phones on AT&T. With a $70 data plan you can get data overseas and not have to hunt around for a free wi-fi connection to get your data.