The real story behind the Verizon BlackBerry Storm OS?
I want to preface this by saying that the following statements are my opinions and hypotheses, and have not be confirmed nor denied by any of sources of mine or official contacts at either corporation. It should serve as a nice little “conspiracy theory,” though. Here’s the deal:
- When we met with Verizon and RIM about the Storm, we asked about the software version. They confirmed it to be 4.7.0.65. We had heard otherwise, just like most of you, and didn’t understand why that OS version was so low when versions up to .90 were being talked about, and some demo units in stores showing .75 or higher.
- We believed this to be a non-final OS and was partly why we thought the OS would get better before release.
- We reported of a Storm shortage last night because of a last minute glitch.
- We think that 4.7.0.82, the version of the Storm box I got from Verizon directly was the cause of the glitch, and instead of a new version being flashed on Storms, what they were in fact doing was downgrading the OS to 4.7.0.65.
Now, why would we say that Verizon has downgraded these units? Do we know this for a fact? Absolutely not, and we said that above. None of this has been confirmed to us at all, but here’s the kicker… check on your Verizon BlackBerry Storm box where the product label is. It should say Version: 4.7.0.65, right? Well, after looking at a box from a Verizon store just now, I noticed a couple layers of stickers. I decided to peel those off, and what did I find? A product label underneath with version 4.7.0.82! So, they realized that there was possibly a huge security vulnerability they couldn’t fix in time, started flashing the units with the .65 software in order to not miss the release date, thus the cause of the shortages, the limited stock, and the direct fulfillment units not shipping until December the 5th. Go ahead, you know you want to peel back those product labels with yellow stickers! Let us know in the comments, ok? The pictures are after the break!
The display units shipped from the wharehouse with software that was 2-3 firmware versions back…They wanted to make sure the stores had enough time to set everything up. The firmware was supposed to be updated over the air but a lot of locations(including mine)didn’t get the memo on that one until 6am on friday…”Sorry but we are doing firmware updates so you can’t play with the storm right now” just would have cut it.
lol @ ilovephonesthatwork lol
i agreee with u
well guys… if you happen to have 2 stickers on your box… go back to your verizon store ask for a second rebate form (don’t tell them why… just say you flubbed the first one) and send that one off too. (with a different phone number of course. and make yourself a little extra money.
also… as i’ve been reading everyone’s articles and posts i have one thing to say… this is blackberry’s first attempt at a touch screen phone. i work in the biz and i’ve seen many touch screen phones. i will say that this is the most comparable to the iphone.
most of the issues people talk about can be fixed with a couple of software updates.
with that said… don’t you think we should give RIM a chance to show us what they can do? i mean look at the first gen iphone… not saying there was anything wrong with it…
but if these 2 phones would have released on the same day. and people used both at the same time for the first time… i think everyone’s opinion might be different…
just a thought…
I tried to buy a Storm yesterday and didn’t even get a chance to “touch” one, given the line. Today (Saturday), I went to a VZW corporate store and they were, of course, sold out. The manager took me aside and told me that he doesn’t expect shipments to happen until December 15th. I tried the unit and it was painfully slow. I type hundreds of emails a day on my BB8703 and I just don’t think that I could stomach typing one letter, waiting for it to render, typing another letter, waiting for it to render, etc… I want it to be good, but, it felt like Microsoft Windows 1.0 as compared to the Apple Macintosh interface back in the mid-80’s. I walked over to the Apple store and played with an IPhone. There really is no comparison as the IPhone is just a superior product at this point.
I’m going back to my BB8703. Perhaps old school is the way to go.
For all those who are not happy with the storm or have to wait till dec 15th before they can get one in the WV area. Come to at&t we have plenty Bolds and Iphones in stock!
@ BinNJ
“Perhaps old school is the way to go” Dude, if you type hundreds of emails every day, then neither the iphone or the Storm is for you, you need a damn keyboard, period. Your 8703 is fine, but check out the Bolds.
I got two of them, one for me and one to re-sell on opening day. I am so glad there is a shortage, makes my un-used one so much more value!
The OS is slow, but who the hell cares, this phone kicks ass. A update will be here soon enough
Yes, this is true and there are rumors that RIM and VERIZON are going to do an OTA (over the air) update in the next two weeks.
sooooooo are they releasing more units today on the west coast?
@tim from att
do you think there is a reason you have so many bolds and iphone just sitting there lol?
nice one tim lol
I have not read all the comments, but I peeled back my sticker and saw .86. Has anyone else had the slightly higher version?
I’ve heard a complaint about typing on the Storm and how you have to click for each keystroke. Why can’t the Storm have an option to ‘type on touch’ for those users who want to type faster with less effort and then have a ‘type on click’ for those users that want to have a ‘SurePress’ experience on typing??
Yeah, were not getting that phone, there is a reason that its an Exclusive to Verizon for the Storm, or Exclusive for the blackberry BOLD. They make GSM versions, but we get that one, and cell phone companies have contractors with agreements to have exclusive phones with each carrier, look at the iphone for example, theres a 5 year on that one. Plus you guys should realize CDMA SUCKS! its freaking old and outdated, catch up with the world and use GSM
I’m new to BlackBerry but am pretty good with these things.
Picked up my Storm yesterday morning – few hours later – few tweaks later – I’m in love!!!!
I can only compare it to my last phone Treo 700w (piece of junk) so I really don’t have a good comparison.
I also really like this suretype keyboard – I’m very fast on it (faster than I am in landscape with full keyboard).
There was just a new OS sicker on mine they didn’t replace the entire sicker. But I peeled that one back and it had .86 too.
Way to go BGR, v4.7.0.65 (Platform 4.0.0.82) AKA Build 92 is the latest release! There are alot of little numbers on the box.
Conspiracy refuted. There will be OS updates coming; NBD.
Hey all,
Listen…I am not a fanboy of any sorts. I have all three major exclusive phones; Verizon’s Blackberry Storm, AT&T’s iPhone 3G, and T-Mobile’s G1 (and at one point I owned the Sprint Instinct, but got rid of it). My favorite service provider is Verizon, but I hate to say that playing with the Storm for a full 24 hours leaves much to be desired…and it has a lot to do with the software. Sluggish, slow, and inaccurate. However, worst of all is the user interface. It’s outright confusing.
The iPhone trumps this phone in terms of usability. It’s simple. The Storm, just to send a text takes a minimum of 5 steps, and awkward pushing in of the screen (try hitting the “reply” button in portrait mode…not easy). That was my major gripe with the Voyager as well. Everything takes more steps. I’d even go so far to say that the G1 running Android also trumps the phone in terms of usability.
Also, the texting just outright sucks. The iPhone’s texting is great (if you can get used to the touchscreen keyboard, and the autocorrect). The G1 also has a good keyboard, albeit it needs an onscreen one too, but that is coming. I find my texting on the storm the least accurate (not counting the instinct), of the major 4 phones. And again, it has to do with the software being inaccurate, which can be fixed easily as well.
Finally, the camera just outright blows. I tried showing it off yesterday because of the flash (few phones nowadays have a flash…I don’t know why). Anyway, I tried showing off the camera and it was just grainy and disgusting. Everyone looked like they were from the Ring. Sucks major donkey dick.
Everyone says that BG is infatuated with the iPhone, and is “biased”. And yeah, he might be, but that’s for a reason, it’s simply the best. Even with the iPhone and all of it’s problems at launch, the phone was still usable. Even the G1 is completely usable and that is a brand new OS. RIM and Verizon really messed up on this one.
The software already needs a major refreshing, and hopefully they figure out the .82 updatefast. Otherwise, an obviously great phone will just catch a lot of flack. This one might go into the Verizon vault as another touch screen failure (along with the Voyager, the Dare, and the Glyde).
Good Grief!!!
I’ve carried ’smart devices’ since the original Palm Pilot. 3, 3e, 505 and 515m (loved that cranberry), Ts, moved to Dell Axims and pushed more content for DL students via WiFi and SD card distribution. Treo, MotoQ, O9M then BB Curve and Storm.
I’ve carried this phone for 1 day. Same as the rest of you.
5 minutes isn’t a trial. And for Mr. Flameboy, the iPhone is great if you want a toy. Serious tool and phone? I think not. Have spent hours with a colleague’s to know that is good music and fun. Certainly not a business tool
As to OS rev, who the hell knows what was in .82 or any other? We sure don’t. So why the tears? .65 is fine for now. This is like crying you have OS X 10.35 not 10.38! Or WinXP SP1 not SP2…
Good Grief!
To the gang from Waterloo, THANKS! Big Red, THANKS!
I like the device, borderline LOVE the device and in one day have spent as many hours as with the other ‘new toys’ above when they were new. I’ve always viewed them as tools of my trade.
I’ve made dozens of calls – no drops, static or BS; written many emails in GMail and my usual tons of SMS. Yes, not quite as fast yet than with my MotoQ and Curve but horrifically slow? No. Getting faster and have finally quite switching back and forth between portrait Multitap and Sure-type going with Sure.
Do I expect fixes under the hood I can’t see? You bet.
Do I expect features, enhancements etc in the future? You bet.
Am I disappointed the GPS is crippled so I can pay for VZ Nav? You bet.
Am I pissed at VZW and RIM for bringing a GREAT enterprise device to my portfolio of everyday tools that make my life easier, more connected and enhance my ability to serve my customers? You thought I would say you bet? Wrong. Thank You!
To Melinda, the Verizon Marketing Rep in Seattle, who thought I was subdued early in the morning:
The phone rocks. I continue to be impressed with my device and customer service experience. And while there are always little bumps in any relationship, Verizon continues to please and impress.
Let’s not forget the tech folks at 800-922-0204 and the local store gearheads who DO have the answers when you call and a few minutes later have you back out the door or with a reset back in biz.
For 24 hours I have been pleased with the device. I’ve used it with my career tech students on Friday afternoon in our continued discussion of personal technology, ‘digital media portability’ and furthered our discussions about technology relationships.
One student’s dad works for T-Mobile and thought the G1 rocked. The rest of the students prefer the Storm. They wanted to know if RIM would release ‘modules’ so it could be a phone and a serious gaming device. Ah to be 8th graders…
So to get off my rant, I expected a line yesterday and got lucky. Once before I had to do the online/FedEx trick. So be it. We are still the 1st kids on the block with a cool phone and for me, a rocking work ‘partner’ (R2D2 or Wall-E would be fun though), and I’m not looking back.
For me, it is Moto Bye Bye.
Thank you Verizon and RIM for continuing to bring good to great handsets and while remembering the consumer and their toys, not forgetting that some of us have work to be done as well. This Storm hits my hot spot.
So, can anyone actually tell me what is in .82? Unless it’s an enhancement to load and show more demo video to my customers and students, an inline transcoding utility for my MPEG2s and other rich media files, enables to unit to simply hover near me rather than my wearing it holstered or magically stays at 100% battery for life, I guess I’ll find out when it arrives.
Okay, I’m not expecting hover or magic battery fairies… Just wanted to see if you read all the way down.
One happy customer that isn’t leaving VZW or letting go of my Storm.
Thank you very much.
Live from Seattle, I’ll take my online news and a Venti drip of the day. Yes, room for cream. Thanks.
Went to Circuit City today to play with the Storm. I tried to load the street.com on the storm and it went to the mobile site. I then tried the full site and guess what, the storm could not load the entire page. Over 1/2 of the news articles did not load. I tried this on my iphone, full page load with no problems.
The interface was very odd and you constantly have to hit the blackberry button to pop up menus. Why do you need menus with a touchscreen phone. Clearly the os is just touch added to the blackberry os and not a new touch operating system.
I also don’t get the icons. They look awful compared to the iphone. I wonder if the storm lacks any form of a video card which is what makes it so slow.
All I know is that in Cupertino they must be celebrating the lack of competition from this phone.
My favorite comments on this board are its a bit buggy or laggy but Rimm will fix it soon. Keep telling yourself this. What if they don’t fix it. And software can fix some problems but make your whole phone faster. Yeah right.
This is like Hyundai’s attempt to make a luxury car. Nice try but definitely not a BMW or a Mercedes.
I think this phone will hurt Rimm’s image, waste tons of resources and money and will never attract enough developers to be a platform. By Christmas there will be over 15 milion iphones in use and maybe a million storms. If you were going to write software, iphone or Storm. Not really a hard choice.
Got mine on Friday morning from VZW store in Bklyn. They had 40 and sold out by opening at 8AM…peeled back the sticker (.65 – with a yellow dot sticker on it), no other sticker underneath.
@ hayweed
Try enabling Java. The default isn’t checked or enabled.
Wow you guys are all freaks with multiple personalities.
If Verizon or RIM had decided to delay the launch of this phone you would have all gone crazy. And if you ask me its better to launch with a not so perfect OS than with a more stable OS with security flaws.
Give them a week and you will all love the new OS guaranteed.
Come on everyone….we all know a certain fruit phone wasn’t released without it’s fair share of bugs. The issue is you have a handful of product testers but the real product testing doesn’t come until manufacturers put the phones in your greedy grips. Mark my words: RIM is definitely not a Hyundai and RIM and VZW will perfect the OS so hold tight and watch the Apple mobile world fall to it’s knees whilst it screams “we’re not worthy, we’re not worthy!”
Good to double check. Just did an update with the Desktop Mgr and a few settings had to be reset.
I reloaded CNN.com after double cking the Java settings and the whole page loads just fine – including the @#$ ads.
I bet a few menu issues need to be looked at by Hayweed…
***Hey wanna know what’s cool about the double sticker??***
Peel one off for the mail in rebate so you don’t have to cut the box….then you still have an intact box with a UPC still in case you want to return it within 30 days =0)