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]
Its spelled customers
Evilhomer said: 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.
@Evilhomer Well yeah your right, mms does have a size capacity, and it is around 300k. But usually when it comes to phones its more about clarity than size. If you don’t have a phone thats taking clear pictures then whats the point in taking one at all. And not only that, phones screen size make it so there is no point having a picture past the point of 300k in the first place. If you haven’t caught some of the few articles that have actually tried out the Storms camera, they say its better than the G1 and the Iphone. So probably a lot to look forward to considering that all previous bb’s cameras kinda suck.
And I actually didn’t think about the wi-fi thing on a phone with a faster processor. I currently have the 8120 and its just short of worthless. But still, wi-fi isn’t so much faster that it makes 3G look like dial-up. So unless people are actually so nit picky that the one thing wrong with this phone is the lack of wi-fi, who gives two shits?
If there was a phone with everything on it then a lot of businesses would go broke. They purposefully don’t give you everything you want, because they give you something to look forward to in the next version. They get you hooked, and take as much money as they can. And right now, this is pretty much the best option as far as phone goes. If its gonna take me 2 seconds longer to look at a web page as long as I have this beautiful freakin beast of a phone, I can honestly say I won’t think about it twice.
How many smartphone users on VZW out of the 73 million. Probably not a large percentage. So to keep going on and on that not having WiFi does not matter is pretty stupid.
How many higher-end smartphones users have bought iPhones or devices with WiFi on other carriers? Fact is a lot. The latest numbers for AT&T, VZW, Apple, RIM and WM are all out and can easily be looked at.
Apple surpassed RIM as the number 2 smartphone maker and now has the most popular phone in the US. AT&T gained 2.4 million new customers, with over 40 percent from VZW all now locked into a new two contract. VZW churn rate went up.
So at least in the short term the trend is VZW is not doing as well as some like to claim here. The Storm not having WiFi or any apps will not help as much as the VZW apologists would like to claim it seems.
So saying that VZW has all these customers is absolutely stupid without showing what type of customers they are the $52 a month phone customer or the $80 to $95 high end data customer. It is very clear that VZW either lost or did not attract many of the latter in 2008!
@ likeabite:
OH, I see you were not being statistical, I see. So you DO believe more than 1 percent of VZW customers travel? Back up and punt?
So you attacked us for talking about traveling. Then you backed up when it suited you. Maybe you should have kept your mouth shut since you had nothing decent to add but distortion!
BUT, it seems you can help yourself to attack someone who was not even talking to you to make some kind of point for your employer!
@likeabite
lol – I too find that interesting enough. On two seperate occasions he has said vzw is the most expensive carrier and both times i’ve asked him to explain himself… and nothing. HOWEVER, if you were to say there are 365 days in a year, I’m almost certain he’d find a way to attack you and either say you are wrong or say that you were using that statement to attack him. I find it very interesting.
OOOHHH, and just so everyone knows, I went to the Frist Touch, First Look event in STL today and the Storm was 20,000x better than I could have imagined it. They had 12 of them there and instead of eating when everyone else ate I conversated my way into playing with one for about 40 minutes or more. Who needs food when you can play with a cool phone right?
The VZW and RIM techs that were present informed me that the phones were just demos and were not running the final version that will be released to customers but that they had downloaded the most recent version completed that morning. It was crazy amazing. Flipping it from one view to the other took maybe a second, maybe. The sure touch capability was to die for. I’ve never felt anything like it. The videos that I was able to look at were incredible. It was like having a mini tv of perfection. I was able to browse the web for a while (check my facebook even). I honestly couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I have nothing to complain about. It was smaller and lighter than I could have imagined. I was very very very satisfied – and that was with a non-final version. I can’t believe they can improve what I saw today.
Keep in mind I didn’t just have this little dandy in my hands for 5 minutes. I messed with 3 of the 12 devices they had there for 40min at the least. Sooooo happy I didn’t listen to what other people had to say.
OH YA, and one of the RIM guys told us today that for the past months and months and months they have been working on an App Store. Yes, you heard that correctly boys and girls, in the near future BB will have a nifty little button that takes you to a nifty little store so you can buy thousands and thousands of apps.
HOLY CRAP!!! YOU MEAN SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE iPHONE WILL HAVE AN APP STORE?? NOOOOO WAY.. Wait, you all know what this means right? Yes, those dirty RIM bastards stole this from Apple. DAMN THEM!
Sorry, I laugh only because I know some idiot would have made that comment.
@JustMe:
You are a pud. That’s been known and posted, even in this forum, for a looooooong time. What’s your next news flash? That the Storm will have a touch screen??
You said:
Sorry, I laugh only because I know some idiot would have made that comment.
So, does that make you the first idiot to say it?
I suppose that RIM has been secretly developing an App Store long before Apple so I’m sure that Apple stole the idea from RIM.
And in closing, why are you wetting yourself over an app store that hasn’t been launched, and YOU just found out about today? You got info on app pricing? What kind of apps are planned, What’s actually going to be available at launch? So basically you are wetting yourself and posting your months old news flash.
Good job!
@Evilhomer
Well excuse the hell out of me. I’m very new to BGR and since I’ve been on here I’ve only haerd people complaining that BB doesn’t have an app store like apple and this that and the other.
I just figured I would be NICE and let others like myself, that were unaware of its development, know what I was told.
I wasn’t asking for your smartass comments.
And just an FYI, a person doesn’t have to know a release date or pricing to get excited about something. Afterall, how many hundreds of people were excited for months about the Storm and until today, no one knew any release date and still don’t know exact pricing.
And I stick to my comment about “some idiot making that comment.” Considering everyone but myself knew about this app store already I’m sure someone made that comment when the WHOLE WORLD (minus myself) found out about it. Afterall, when the Storm was revealed people made the comment that RIM stole the touchscreen idea from Apple. Heaven forbid.
In conclusion, thank you for your useless comments – moving on.
Oh ya, and sorry to everyone else. Apparently I’m the only person on the face of the earth that this is news to.
Sorry for attempting to give some good news. I suppose I should just crawl under a rock now./sarcasm
This has been posted all over the wireless forums, not just this one. And fact is, my comments weren’t useless. They educated you, didn’t they?
As far as the first idiot to make that app store comment, you may not have been the first, but to me, you always will be the biggest…
Oh, and man up a little. You aren’t the first newbie to get flamed for posting old info. You should just try and keep yourself “current” on topics before posting about them.
@Evilhomer
I can never tell how to take your comments in the end.. lol I’ll just smile and say the same thing you once said to me, “From you I’ll take that as a compliment”
@ Geewiz…so riddle me this stupid…if you had 80 million customers and a very small percentage bought smartphones who would you cater to? Those bitching and moaning about the lack of Wifi or the ones that buy regular phones plus the others who buy smartphones and don’t care about Wifi? And what you just stated just proves my point that Verizon is not going to sit there and nitpick about putting Wifi in all of their phones to appease idiots like you because the majority of their customers are not those who have a need 4 it.
@ JustMe…thanks for the update on the STL event…was waiting on it. Glad you had positive reviews which just reinforces me wanting this phone!
@ Evilhomer take it easy…JustMe is just being ecstatic about experiencing something we all haven’t. Even though we knew about the app store not everyone else knew you know? And I still have the 6700 and I also had to use regedit to be able to get Wifi and phone working at the same time.
@ Geewiz…I work at a law firm buddy…never worked for Verizon so what the fuck are you talking about idiot? And your little rant you just went on makes you sound like a little bitch…man the fuck up and stop crying. Yes I’m cursing at you because you always bitching at something. 73 million customers also proves my point that crippling phones has not cost them anything. If they were so horrible everyeone of those 73 million would’ve left right? And my 80 mil number I’ve been stating is because the DOJ and FCC both just approved their merger with Alltel which easily puts them past the 80 mil mark. So unless you have sumthing smart to say don’t bitch or complain…you’re sounding like a little girl and it’s making me mad lmao.
@likeabite
Yes, I can assure you that you will love it.
@Likeme: I’m just bustin’ your nuts a little. Sorry but I just get worked up when people talk as if RIM invented the wheel with this device. They looked at Apples success with the iPhone and followed suit. That’s okay. Others have done it. Just don’t get all arrogant about people pointing out that Apple deserves some serious cred. Also, I don’t blame you for geting all worked up over this device. Without sounding like a hater, VZW hasn’t really released anything exciting or “innovative” in a long time. They have a great network but it does suck being stuck with ONLY their offerings. That’s the great thing about GSM. The phone world is your oyster!
@likeabite: I still don’t think it’s so wrong to complain about VZW ripping the wifi out of the device. There is no good reason for it. You are correct that VZW crippling their handsets hasn’t hurt their bottom line, but it’s still a shitty damn practice considering they are the only ones who choose to do so. It hasn’t hurt their bottom line, it just short changes their customers.
So, that said, I am still waiting for one good reason, or one legitimate argument that would justify VZW excluding wifi from the device… I think if there was one, the people who want it wouldn’t complain to much. I’m not razzing on you or the device, It’s just that the Bold has everything intact. GPS, BT and WIFI. If the soon to be 2nd largest carrier can allow this and still be profitable, surely the great and mighty Big Red can throw us wifi fans a bone!
It’s nice to have the LARGEST customer base but even better to have the LARGEST and HAPPIEST, eh?
@Evilhomer
I can see where you are coming from. I have absolutely nothing against Apple and the iPhone. In fact, as I’ve stated before, but many may not remember, I’m still an AT&T customer. The company that I work for use to sell AT&T and then AT&T decided to drop 85% of their independent agents to go “more corporate.” We then switched to Verizon.
Sooo, with that being said, I seriously considered getting the iPhone 3G when it came out, but then when heard and read about all of it’s problems I kinda shyed away from the idea. And after working for Verizon I’ve realized -in my opinion- how much better Verizon actually is and when my contract is up on the 18th of this month, I plan to switch (or after I decided if I want the Storm or the Omnia.. decisions decisions.. lol).
Afterall, Apple and RIM aren’t the only two carriers will all touch screen devices. They’ve all got ‘em and they are all trying to make the “one” that everyone wants. I’m sure it’s going to be a constant battle till the end. And, at the end of the day, everyone has their own wants and needs and hopefully one of these 10 million phones will suit them.. lol
@ JustMe:
I would be most happy to explain why VZW is the most expensive carrier as it appears you never bothered to shop. You just write your check out to VZW for whatever they ask for and YOU gladly pay the amount. Nothing particularly wrong with that, but facts are being requested so I will comply.
First off AT&T for one offers rollover minutes, this alone makes them quite a bit cheaper as almost all users NEVER go over the monthly fee and have minutes in the bank they do not lose at the end of the month.
Next, AT&T offers FREE WiFi at over 20,000 hotspots in the US and 90,000 globally. They exist at most major airports, Starbucks, Bookstores, Restaurants, Hotels, etc etc.
WiFi allows for VoIP calls and data use for FREE when traveling. As well as faster downloads, connecting to a local network and use of your device in weak or no service areas, like when traveling, inside of buildings, on campuses, or inside your own home. This saves you money and offers services ignored by VZW. Also saves you time.
AT&T as well as T-Mobile allows for the use of navigation that is built-in to several innovative mobile devices that VZW has refused as it probably conflicts with the $10 per month service they sell. This saves you money.
Choice of a music store other than VCAST is a no-no on most all of VZW supplied phones. VZW charges double the price of most all other music store for OTA downloads! They do not allow any of these devices OTA downloads from any other music store!
Finally, I think if you were actually interested, you can check to see AT&T, T-Mobile offers less expensive data plans and family plans. Yes they are cheaper.
OK then I answered your question. VZW is more expensive and more restrictive with more crippled phones than any other carrier in the US. Sure they have an excellent network, but you are forced to use it ONLY with the crippled devices they offer at the higher prices they charge.
Thank you very much for inviting me to point this out!
@likeabite:
With all the nonsense that is said with VZW ripping out WiFi, it IS a fact that VZW has lost a significant amount of customers this past year to AT&T. The numbers do not lie. VZW has lost about 1 million customers to the iPhone alone raising their churn rate. Just look it up.
WiFi and the apps that use wifi is a big part of that. AT&T offers free WiFi and just bought Wayport as these WiFi hotspots is a less expensive means for back hauling data traffic from their 3G network. VZW spends lots of money using only fiber to the 3G network in a less distributed way. I know this I work in IT for the mobile business.
I also do not work for any carrier and do not defend any carrier. Unlike you that seems their paycheck comes from VZW or something. You defend ANYTHING they do and WHATEVER they charge.
Quoting any nonsense stat that suits your argument at the moment even it if the stat is not true. You push the 80 million number around without it being true.
Example, VZW has about 73 million – Altell, a company that has 13 million customers. VZW has approval to purchase Altell at the high number of upwards of 28 BILLION, assuming 22 BILLION in debt to bring VZW debt number to over 30 BILLION (in a down economy no less). It will cost VZW about 8 BILLION to converge networks only saving 1 BILLION in operating cost. VZW will not be allowed to keep all of the Altel customers in the deal with the DOJ. ADD the fact that VZW also paid big money for rural wireless company.
I bring this up to show all who care, that Altell average per customer billing is about $54 per month. iPhone and smartphone average billing is usually around $95 per month.
As VZW buys customers adding debt, AT&T has added 2.4 million (mostly smartphone high data customers) by winning them with innovative devices and NO debt.
You like to rant without much in the way of facts. Fact is VZW has lost plenty of high-end customers that are heavy data users to other carriers due mostly to not supporting things like WiFi, innovative devices and crippling phones.
BB is still mostly a business tool and has not won over many other users. The iPhone has hurt VZW and RIM in that area. The Storm without WiFi, apps, or games will NOT change this.
Stay in your law firm and stop ranting away without the facts. Most of the customers numbers you are quoting are not smartphone customers that spend the most on services. If you do not receive a check from VZW, maybe you should with all the nonsense and attacking everyone who points out the high pricers, crippled devices and lack of WiFi. Apple for a job, I think they can use a guy like you on their staff.
I am not alone in my assessment of you. I thought “Evilhomer” straighten you out quite a bit! He even did it in a nice way without personal insults.
Tell us do you get so worked up after seeing YOUR company get criticized that you go home and “kick your dog through the hedge?” Your attacks are actually pretty vile as the facts seem to allude you.
@ JustMe:
Yeah RIM has been working on a App Store for a long time. Let me tell you how long. A little less than 4 months, right after Apple launched one to great success.
Apple also showed the App Store several months ahead of the launch as part of the roadmap for the iPhone.So there were no new idea here from RIM. They are playing catch-up!
BB has been around for years and years with NO App Store and even according to RIM has ONLY about 700 apps! NONE for the Storm! Innovation, was copying Apple.
My latest check today brings the iPhone app count to 8,165 iPhone Apps. That is more than ten times BB in only just four months! These are all native apps running on OS X that resides on the iPhone, NOT 2D Java apps running on the BB in a Java Virtual Machine.
There has been well over 200 million plus downloads of iPhone apps and they are adding abut 200 plus per month. Apple may actually have over 10,000 apps for iPhone by year end.
All RIM has done was throw away their beloved mechanical keyboard and copy as much as they could of the iPhone with the Storm. Imitation being a sincere form of flattery being fine. But without WiFi, multi-touch, games, and all those apps it is just another wannabe.
So you knock the iPhone app store, while you claim it is great that BB will have one! I say what took so long? Did someone else have to show them how?
Thank you Voice of Reason
@ Geewiz…so this AT&T rant you just went on would not make you an AT&T defender? We all have our preferences and your stupidity to in thinking you are not biased is what makes most people attack your viewpoints. Since you want to stay on stats, here they are, from Wikipedia:
Verizon Wireless has the highest revenue of all wireless companies based within the United States, with an annual revenue of $43.9 billion. On June 5, 2008, Verizon Wireless announced their intention to acquire rural provider Alltel Wireless in a deal valued at $28.1 Billion. With this merger, Verizon Wireless states that it will have approximately 85.2 million wireless subscribers and will cover a geographical region that contains approximately 290 million people.
So stupid, riddle me this. They are the second largest carrier with the largest revenue…above your almighty AT&T, which it states: Revenue ▲US$42.7 billion (2007) [1]
So if you have the largest customer base and your revenue is being dwarfed by the 2nd largest who is doing something right? The facts don’t lie moron. And the same goes for my 80 million costumers comment, they will be at 85.2 million when the merger is complete, so how is that a lie? Also your little idiotic comment about Verizon losing costumers to the iPhone because of Wifi has to be the most asinine one in the history of BGR. People bought the iPhone because it was the iPhone, not because it had Wifi. Most people who have the iPhone do not even use it for that functionality sir. They have it because it is the “cool” phone. If you believe the got it because it had Wifi then you’re dumber than I thought.
And Verizon does not lose any costumers with the merger so get your facts straight stupid. They simply have to allow operation of their towers in certain regions by other carriers to prevent a monopology. None of their costumers will stop being Alltel or Verizon costumers because the two companies merge. Makes no sense.
@ Paul Yes the iPhone App store is doing great and no one said it is not. But do not credit them with the idea of the App store as independent vendors have had this for years, ie Fandango and the Crackberry App Store. Get your shit straight fuck boy.
@ likeabite
yeah its tooo cold to be running around, it seems that many people have won in the promotional booth, im just gonna hit that up
@Likeabite: Quit posting as if everyone who bought the iPhone did so just because it was an “iPhone” and didn’t put any thought into it. You are making yourself out to be a jackass fanboy. Many people bought the phone for it’s amazing video and audio features, email handling, easy to use and stable interface, and a killer gaming capabilities. It has a better graphics chipset than the DS or PSP. Don’t lump us in as morons who didn’t know what we were getting.
And you are wrong about the app store. Handango and others like it are just resellers of 3rd party apps, mostly requiring you to download them from a PC and install the to the device from the PC. They are not certified and tested by Handango, nor does Handango back them up for you on there website incase it’s deleted or lost from your device. you comparing Apple’s App Store to Handango is like saying the Ebay isn’t innovative because we’ve had garage sales for decades…
And BTW, Fandango won’t sell you apps for your device but they will give you movie showtimes…
Interesting how Evilhomer, Geewiz and Paul all commented within 30 minutes. LMAO…
@ Dave yea I’ll be there also
@ Evilhomer. I like all the points you alluded to but the iPhone just became a gaming platform. Most people were not looking at it just for that when they first bought and in all the things you mentioned not once did you mention the Wifi capability. That is most likely my point that people did not look to that as their main focus for buying the phone, bur rather some of the points you listed. And I said the App Store was great, just not the first of it’s kind…Yea it mdae it better, and has all the features you listed but I’m just saying as an App Store in itself it is not the first of it’s kind. That’s like Google saying they were the first search engine. They are by far the best and most innovative now but certainly not the first.
Correction, Handango lol
bluehorseshoe Said:
Interesting how Evilhomer, Geewiz and Paul all commented within 30 minutes. LMAO…
________________________
You really have nothing to add to any of these conversations except this same broken record do you? Stop being douchebag.