On Friday, Verizon will be the first and only wireless carrier in the U.S. to offer Research in Motion’s new BlackBerry Storm. The device, which costs $199 with a two-year contract and a $50 mail-in rebate, is the first phone that could give Apple’s iPhone–offered exclusively on AT&T’s network for the same price–a run for its money.
I checked out the new touch-screen phone this week and have been playing around with it for a few days. My first impression is that it’s pretty cool. It shares many of the same features that have made the iPhone popular, such as a touch screen, media player, and full HTML browser, making it a strong alternative to the iPhone.
No wifi = fail in Australia where we have savage 3G data caps.
Need the Wi-fi on business trips. No go for me.
I was going to get this phone when I first heard it was coming out but then they dropped the WIFI. I am considering leaving Verizon to get something that does have WIFI and is not an old POS.
Seems like the lack of WIFI is a major stumbling block.
Since Verizon is a CDMA provider, how well will this phone work as a world phone? Does it take a SIM card for Europe? What’s the cost of international roaming? My Sprint contract expires in a couple of months and I’ll be going elsewhere–but it will be someplace where I can get worldwide roaming.
It would make a nice upgrade for enterprise use but although I have not tested one, I’m pretty sure it’s not as slick as the iPhone.
I’m also not sure how well the lack of keyboard on a BB device will be accepted. STill, it looks nice
Have to say I’m very happy with the 3G IPhone, even with its little foibles and proprietary Apple focus.
The only advantages that I can see with the Blackberry platform has is the robustness of keyboard (apparently the Storm touchscreen based keyboard is a bit better than IPhone also), and the enterprise security and policy features when using BES.
For the small / medium business with an exchange server, your almost better off using a smartphone that does activesync (like an IPhone), since you already have all the server side infrastructure necessary.
Also, I’ve never seen Verizon be able to match AT&T World service.
Hustler rating? Totally limp…
I wanted one until I found out about the WiFi…. Looks like the older “Bold” may be the way for me to go, if not a Palm….
I also can’t get a straight answer out of the local Verizon folks. I _thought_ I was already paying for “data” so the kid could abuse the text messaging setup without emptying my wallet. It seems that they want another $50-$60 for web access….
I also need to figure out whether any sort of Outlook integration is present. Not that I like Outlook much, but…. (The old Razr needs a battery, and I’ve decided that I don’t need a PDA and a phone….)
About the batteries: Apple doesn’t provide a removable battery. However, when you look at the price of a replacement for phones that do, you probably would be fine to just grab a new phone in the two years or so it takes to fry a battery.
When I hear about how good Blackberry and the Iphone are, I can’t help but think “How in the world did Palm screw up so completely?”. It would make a good book on how not to manage a business.
Read the review on BoyGeniusReport.
WAAAY too many negatives, some of which are big ones, which make this phone a no go.
The typing, more specifically, writing large emails is tiresome. There’s issues with browsing. The screen is amazing but it isn’t (read the review you’ll see). Lack of WIFI is ridiculous and was never even considered at the request of Verizon.
The list of cons goes on. Good phone, but if you actually use your phone for business, ie: ever need to write an email on it you’d be better off with a Bold or Curve.
I live in CDMA country. An iphone here is next to worthless. The Blackberry does well on EVDO. Of course browsing on my Blackberry Curve isn’t great, but doable. If Apple hadn’t tied themselves down with AT&T and produced a CDMA version, they would probably own the US cellular market by now.
#8,
I am a switcher from Verizon to AT&T, and that is easily the most psychotic thing you have ever said.
When I was on Verizon, I always had service, and I NEVER dropped calls. The iPhone + AT&T simply does not work inside of large buildings(or the part of my house where I have my home computer for example), or anywhere off of the interstate highway system. I drop calls all the time, I have had to adjust my phone usage so that I am not walking around.
If there is a weak link on the iPhone, it is AT&T.
#10
I agree with you on the battery. Like some products it’s best just to get another whole product instead of replacing the parts, particularly the battery. Prime examples are executive chairs with broken bases, printers, copiers, laptops with batteries, etc.
When I see people complain about the battery, I’m baffled why they would want that option without realizing if the option was made available it’ll most likely be costly and it’ll shut most of them up quickly. What they should be asking for is a cheap battery replacement altenative, like regular AA batteries 😀
Ive been feeling guiltiy since I was being a cyber bully earlier, mod could you delete my earlier post?
I got to thinking about some of these “apps” on the iPhone. Like the one that shows you where the closest restaurant is to you. And you have to pay for that? Isn’t that like paying for the Yellow Pages book? And I wonder if the businesses pay Apple for being listed by the App? Double whammy! Next thing you know, scented candles will come with a fire insurance policy.