BlackBerry Storm rumor recap: Vodafone BES issues, software update, mass hysteria
We figured that instead of making you comb the internets trying to hunt down the latest information on the BlackBerry Storm, we’d compile a nice recap of sorts. Some of it is new exclusive information, and some of it is just other things that have been floating around. Let’s get into it…
- We’ve heard that Vodafone UK has absolutely no intention of selling the Storm to BES users until 2009. We’re not exactly clear on this (since the two Vodafone Storms we have were converted to a business BES account after purchase), but we believe it means that there will be no direct-to-business sales of the handset. Not that you couldn’t as an individual purchase one and simply add a BES plan and convert it to a business account. We’re told that the reason of the hold-up is that Vodafone is worried the device, with the on-going hardware and software issues, isn’t up to snuff for their corporate users.
- For more information on the issues with the Vodafone BlackBerry Storm, hit Vodafone’s forum. You’ll see an enormous amount of complaints about signal reception, buttons falling off, and software issues.
- BlackBerry Storm OS 4.7.0.75 seems to be floating around in some circles. There’s been a ton of misinformation out there, but the update appears to be real, and is currently NOT — let’s stress the word, “NOT” — available to the general public. As many times as you might try to check for updates in Desktop Manager or in the Upgrade portion of Options on your device, you won’t get anything at the moment. We’ll obviously keep you updated on this, but don’t get your hopes up just yet.
- Some BlackBerry Storm users have complained about the difficulty of pressing edges of the touch panel on their devices. It’s a mixed bag, and out of the five Storms we’ve had, two were perfect and three were terrible. We noted this in our review, and the remedy seems to be inserting business cards or paper (you believe this?) underneath the battery or on top of the battery under the battery door. Don’t bother. Just return them and get them swapped out. It’s not your problem, it’s their problem.
- In terms of unlocking the BlackBerry Storm, you’ll have a much easier time getting the unlock code from Verizon. It’s rather simple, really. As long as you have an account that is current with no past due charges and the device on your account, you can call Verizon’s Global Support number and request an unlock code for the handset. Nine times out of ten they’ll give you the code while you are still on the phone. Easy. As. Pie.
Read [BGR's BlackBerry Storm review]
Read [Vodafone's eForum]
FIRST! STORM SUCKS! CATCH AN IPHONE or BOLD!
AT&T BOY, i mean BOyGenius……i got my Storm yesterday and besides a little lag in the accelerometer, i have no problems with the OS.
@HOFO
That’s right, because you’ve had a good experience means EVERYONE’S had a good experience. Maybe you should start a website instead of criticizing someone else’s.
BTW, based on my few minute hands on with the Storm, I understand why everyone hates it and thinks it sucks….because it does.
Congrats on receiving a good device. Where was your phone built, Mexico or Canada? My experience has been the handsets (88xx) have had more issues than the ones from Canada. Might all be luck of the draw. I have noticed that a good number of the people at my employer that own/owned a red AT&T 8310 have had multiple issues from keys not responding to scroll wheels going nuts. For an exact number (including replacements) 17. Sure you can throw in the multiple issues with phones from other providers but it all comes down to there is no perfect phone or provider. Early adopters *always* have problems. The price you pay for the four days of “look at my phone” glory. Not all people will have the same experience either. I don’t understand the bashing that goes on here. Everyone has a bias toward something. Don’t like it? I have a great idea, start your own blog and voice your opinion that way. Was the “AT&T BOY, i mean BOyGenius…” really necessary? Anyways, back to the Storm.
Well all i can say is if your planning on getting the BB Storm for your own sake please don’t drop the cash on it before playing with the display model for a few minutes or you will be sorry, a lot of the issues it has can be fix with a software patch and some don’t, that’s why am saying give it a try before signing your life away for 2 years, also remember Rimm won’t dedicate their entire team just to address issues with the Storm so don’t expect a overnight miracle ether, this is just another model for them
Great info as always BG.
Thanks.
Should make another bold point saying there is no damn proximity sensor in this phone and RIM can never fix that mistake.
@vaxick
Forgot to add that…am I the only one that presses the screen and clicks random buttons when talking on the phone? It’s absolutely astonishing that this wasn’t thought of and corrected.
I returned my back to the Verizon store today. The youg lady told me that they have 25 returns so far.Mine made the 26th. I just had enough of this BS…….I just think Verizon and RIm are full of shit for acting like is all user errors. What a bunch of fools…..
You people easily forget all the issues your beloved iPhone had after you waited in line in the freezing snow and alien invasion to pick up your first-gen StevePhone. Come on, people.
I played with my buddies Storm tried using my typical iphone techniques on it… total FAIL… sending a text message or evening trying to scroll down google search results was a pain in the ass….
if you are on Verizon, get the Omnia… its nasty
@ Richard Ward
There were some issues with the iPhone, but it was a HELL OF A LOT more bearable than the Storm’s issues.
Of course the iPhone had it’s fair share I’d issues at launch but damn… Would you ever expect something like this from RIM espicially knowing their products had a reputation of being top notch when it comes to build quality?
They had plenty of time to work out of the kinks with the storm but chose not to. I would rather have a great, functioning, fast phone by February than have a slow, crappy phone by Christmas.
Sorry meant to say of and not I’d in that first line of my comment.
Typing on an iPhone
Seems like Verizon and RIM are really hurting themselves more so through the release of this phone. The amount of people returning the phone is ridiculously high.
@Richard Ward, Dude the iphone was release on July with 90+ degree weather, so you my friend FAIL with that one. The good part about all this is that Rimm is gonna learn and the next model i bet it will be Kick ass, I myself thought of getting it and selling my 3G iphone, but after also playing with one my brother got, i decided that the lack of the proximity sensor was quite annoying and that it was only 1 of the few things Rimm can’t fixed with a firmware so maybe next time, in my opinion this device is not ready for prime time, but hey it’s just my opinion
Happy Thanksgiving Storm users. RIM served you a big helping of turkey.
Dude, it’s RIM, not Rimm. It stands for Research In Motion.
I played with my friends 1st gen iphone the day he got it which was within a month of its launch. It worked perfectly(except for that whole att thing hah). It made calls, got on the internet fine, HAD WIFI,got email. All the basics. It seems to me that people are critiquing the Storm to much. Does it get good reception, type decently for a touch screen, and have decent load times on the browser? Anything else is just knitpicky. Unless of course you gave up a better device for this one. Than you have stuff to complain about
With the issues going around how long will the exclusivity last?
It’ll probably still be exclusive for the year, but I doubt Verizon will get close to selling enough devices to maintain the exclusivity.
I HAVE HAD MY NEW VERIZON STORM FOR 4 DAYS NOW. IT TOOK ME 2 DAYS TO GET USED TO THE WAY IT WORKS. ALL YOU FOOLS WHO TRY IT FOR A FEW HOURS AND GET FRUSTRATED AND RETURN IT ARE JUST THAT —FOOLS!
THIS PHONE ROCKS (FOR THE FIRST OF ITS KIND NEWLY RELEASED). I CAN NAVIGATE,TYPE,SURF,MESSAGE,PLAY AND ROCK OUT ON THIS PHONE AS FAST AS I WANT. SURE THERE ARE A FEW BUGS. NOTHING THAT CANT BE FIXED WITH SOFT AND FIRM UPDATES. SORRY IF YOU DONT LIKE YOURS. THANK YOU RIM FOR GOING OUT ON A LIMB.
Wow, I understand that the general populous seems to “hate” the Storm but really? All of you iPhone Fanboys need to chill out. Because I know for a fact that YOUR phone wasn’t perfect when in came out. What version is iPhone on now?! This is the first time that RIM has EVER released a phone of this capacity. So given some time I’m sure it will be great if not greater than the iphone. I also argued the WiFi fact, but when you really think about it.. how often do you really use your wifi on your phone when you can just jump on a computer. My Storm does have it’s issues, I also did the paper in the battery mod BECAUSE of the long wait time to get a new one. For the record, at first, I didn’t like the Storm, but after getting adjusted, just like EVERYONE else with a new phone, it grew on me.
side note: I use and live by my Macbook Pro.
What a failure!!!That’s what happen when you are rushing a new device out of the door in order to compete.
Well, at least AT&T was smart enough to delay the Bold for many months. And I think it worth the wait as it’s selling very well.
Hopefully RIM will get it right on the 2nd generation ’cause a firmware update won’t resolve all of the Storm fiasco.