News & Rumors

Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 Announcement Video!!

by Kevin Michaluk

on 15 Sep 2008 08:01 PM

105

Update 4: VERIZON STORM SITE IS UP!!! www.verizonwireless.com/storm

Update 3: Oh Verizon. We know you'll soon launch the BlackBerry Storm's info site at www.verizonwireless.com/storm, but in the meantime it would have been nice of you to let us keep up the announcement video we posted. After all, it seemed your whole goal with Monday's Minute with Mike announcement was to capitalize on the blogosphere hype. Why spend so much time and effort producing a snazyy video that you don't want leaked out everywhere?! Big Red, we were helping you out. Ahh well...all good things must come to an end....one door closes, another opens and all that jazz. Read On for BlackBerry Storm info and lots of comments.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth even more, we'll do the opposite and just quickly summarize the key info regarding Verizon's upcoming BlackBerry Storm touchscreen smartphone that was relayed by Mike Lanman, Chief Marketing Officer of Verizon Wireless, in the Monday, September 15th Special Edition episode of A Minute with Mike.

Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 Quick Facts

The Storm is Research in Motion's first touchscreen smartphone
The Storm features a "click" touchscreen, making it easy to input text precisely
The resolution on the Storm will be the highest ever produced by RIM
The BlackBerry Storm features a 3.2 megapixel camera
The Storm is a global device with quad band architecture, good in 195 countries
The Storm features full HTML web browsing, visual voicemail and will be VZ Navigator capable (with audible turn by turn capabilities for directions)
And the BlackBerry Storm will only be available on Verizon

Pricing and availability of Verizon's BlackBerry Storm have not been disclosed yet, but the company will be launching a site in the near future at www.verizonwireless.com/storm where you can sign up for updates and news surrounding the release of the BlackBerry Storm. We'll let you know when Verizon launches the new site.

Take a read through the comments below for reactions to the now-pulled video. Thanks for tuning in...and stay tuned for more!

Update 2: Well, it appears the powers-that-be weren't to fond of that video, it's been yanked from YouTube. Actually, I find it a little odd that it was taken down. If you check out the "Talking Points" .pdf after the jump the whole document is geared towards the hype surrounding the Storm in the Blogosphere. Well, We're going to continue to talk up the Storm, guys, pulling the video from YouTube only serves as confirmation. Here's that video, one more time, with feeling!

Update: We now have the actual .pdf files that went out to VZW employees. Check them out after the jump. In addition to the Talking Points document (widely seen already), there's also a Q&A .pdf. Not much new here, but it does have a table comparing the Storm to the iPhone 3G. I guess we know where Verizon is aiming their sights. **

Here it is BlackBerry Nation! You've been waiting all day for it. BIG THANKS to the crew who got us a video capture of the Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 announcement video that went out to VZW employees this morning on the Minute with Mike show. The sound quality isn't great, but it features captions so its all good. Don't forget where you saw it first!

Filed Under: News & Rumors;

105 Comments

Posted by mscooley Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

Does anyone know how long it will be a Verizon Exclusive? Sure other CDMA carriers will be able to rock this after about 90 days or so.

Posted by CanisMinor Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

In the US, Verizon will have a lifetime exclusive on this device. That means NO OTHER US carrier gets the Storm EVER, as long as VZW makes sales targets.

Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1234 days ago

Verizon does not have a lifetime exclusive on the Blackberry Thunder when have you RIM limited themselves to one carrier? there success comes from reaching out and providing to all carriers, this is why Apple will never catch RIM they limit themselves to one carrier and it happens to have a sucky carrier backing them up.

Posted by Sammy7559 Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 1234 days ago

Wrong. In a VZW/RIM meeting, a RIM representative confirmed that there will be lifetime exclusivity in the US for VZW. Also, after the current generation, all subsequent RIM new releases will be releasing to VZW first. Well, that's what he said!

Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008 1214 days ago

it should be out on Oct. 8. But it might be more later. I cant wait either since my contract ends in november.

Posted by Surfryde Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

Well Done Crackberry team. I'll be holding out judgment on the phone till I can play with one in the store though.

Posted by jetsafl Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

If you look at about 53 seconds you see a finger scrolling with ease. Doesn't look like the screen "button" was / has to be pressed to scroll. That was one of the issues I was concerned about. I want to see feel the screen button thing before I jump in.

Posted by TZaccheo Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

That is my biggest concern after seeing the video of it in action a few weeks back. I definitely will need to see how the screen functions (especially typing) before I throw my NE2 into the ring.

Posted by markcb Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

cannot wait!!

Posted by rashad Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

I SELL VERIZON FOR AN INDIRECT AGENT...AND I SELL TEN BLACKBERRIES A MONTH AS IT IS..THIS IS GONNA BE GOLDEN.

Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

Ten a month??? Where do you work Montana?

Posted by miata492 Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

definitely looking forward to getting one of these!!!

Posted by MichaelbrandonW Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

Outstanding job Crackberry!! Kevin, you and your staff rocked out from day one on the Storm/Thunder coverage. The Boy hasn't even posted the vid images, let alone the actual video. Hands down to you and your team. You are truly the leading inside, non bias source to upcoming technology.
Thanks for existing.

Posted by BB_addict Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

Non-bias? Um....he's a crackberry addict. Not that that's a bad thing. Just saying is all.

Keep up the great work!!

Posted by Anonymous Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

gosh i cant wait til the CDMA version comes out for Sprint....whichever phone that will be! (Bold, Javelin, Niagara?, Storm, Pearl 8220)

Awesome video!!
=]

Posted by bmcclure937 Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

Nice little video...

cool device...

but VZW lifetime exclusivity in the states makes me sad sad sad :(

Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

why do so many people have problems with Verizon exclusivity?? iPhone isnt bad... the problem is ATT!!! the voice service is far from good, and in the northeast... WORTHLESS!!!

I've had Nextel, Sprint, and Nextel while owned by sprint (which btw made it worse). Verizon is defintely the network if u want to be able to make calls with your phone!

Posted by skyys Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

Someone make a copy of this video before it gets pulled!

Posted by Kevin Michaluk Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

No worries there. I've got the original. It won't be going anywhere. :)

PLUS..it seems Verizon's strategy here (look at the print announcement on it) is to tap into the blogosphere hype. Pulling this video would be counter productive to their goal.

Posted by skyys Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

YOU ROCK!

Posted by kasperapd Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

Verizon may have the exclusive on the 9530 Storm.... but there are many rumors floating around that there will be a 9500 device that will launch in Canada and Europe and be able to be used on AT&T and T-Mobile once unlocked.

Posted by Anonymous Monday, Oct 13, 2008 1208 days ago

That is not true. All future phone that derive from the Storm are exclusive to VZW. Sorry.

Posted by jrock1979 Friday, Feb 27, 2009 1071 days ago

There is a Blackberry Storm 9500 that is GSM. You have to go on Ebay and purchase it. It will already be unlocked and sells for over $450.00. So it AT&T users want the storm, they just have to go on EBay and get it. No phone is ever exclusive to any one company if it is sold globally. Majority of the world is GSM!!

Posted by Pholey22 Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

SOLD!! When can I have it, thats my only question?!?

Posted by Silent Treatment Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

I guess when it comes to Blackberries, you have shown the difference between a Man and a Boy. Really appreciate your unbiased observations! I really like what is being shown and cannot wait to see the real thing.

Posted by Anonymous Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

omg did you see him scroll that webpage - it was HUGE!

Posted by DKM Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1236 days ago

So, will this be a conceptual exclusive whereby no other carriers would be able to sell touch screen BBs? Or is this a model-specific exclusive, whereas Sprint (then maybe later, other carriers) could sell a tweaked version? I mean, I just can't imagine it hitting sales targets over and over forever, unless it starts to create wine from water through that touchscreen...

Posted by sarfrazfamily Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1235 days ago

Im so excited about this yay!! Is spoke to someone at telus today in Yorkdale mall the asst manager and he told me by October. i know I know before everyone jumps that's just what he said but it was nice to be in a store where they had an idea of what the phone was lol!! anyway, thanks for the video how great is that? I love it. oh yeah he also told me not guarentee but the price looks like a 8-900 dollar mark? wow!

Posted by blackbboi1 Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1235 days ago

so since this will be exclusive to the US does that mean if i were to buy an (UNLOCKED) one on ebay and ship it to australia it wont work?

i want to know will it just be exclusively sold in the US
or will it exclusively only work in the US?

thanks for anyone who answers my question

Posted by sheesh Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

no.. it will work in 195 countries (rewatch the video for details) Exclusive IN the US ON Verizon.. the rest of the world (except Canada) will get it from Vodophone

Posted by Jason Niel Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1235 days ago

These exclusives that go beyond 90 - 180 days are just foolish in my opinion. There are plenty of folks out there like me who will never, ever switch to Verizon (insert some other carrier here if you like) no matter what kind of exclusive they have on a particular device. I simply hate the way they disable features on their handsets and then make you pay extra to have the stuff enabled again. See VZ navigator, etc. here... I even have a friend who has made himself quite comfy operating exclusive Verizon stores in a region of the country, and I still won't friggin switch.

No thanks!

Posted by skyys Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

And there are plenty of people who will switch to Verizon for a device. Maybe they did their research and found that there are enough people who will switch that would warrant an exclusivity that will benefit both Verizon and RIM. The only feature they disabled and made people pay to use was VZNav...that I can think of. Even though it may cost a little extra and I have to pay to use VZNav, the reception coverage compared to Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mo (yes, I have been through them all) is worth the lost of not having VZNav for me. Since I don't mind actually taking 30 secs to find where I'm at using GoogleMaps, not being able to use VZNav for free doesnt not bother me when I know I'm not sacrificing coverage just to have a free app.

AND I KNOW that everyone has different experiences and coverage issues with all carriers depending on where you are but coverage is the primary factor that determines which carrier I'm with. It just so happens that Verizon has the best in my area and I have no complaints or resentment toward them. Especially since I'll be able to get a Storm when it is released. :)

Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

"I simply hate the way they disable features on their handsets and then make you pay extra to have the stuff enabled again."

Do you think Verizon is the only service that charges for GPS service on their phones? AT&T Navigator, Sprint Navigation, and Alltel Navigation all cost the same price as VZ Navigator, $9.99/mo or $2.99/day. T-mob doesn't even have it. Obviously the other carriers do the same thing because it is a premium service.

The next thing you'll probably throw in is Visual Voicemail, arguing that "all the other carriers offer it for free on their phones..." Fact is its only available on 3 phones right now, the Voyager, iPhone, and Instinct. With the iPhone you are paying for a $30 data package and they bundle it there, so you really can't make the arguement that its free. Sprint offers it for free out of desperation. Why do people expect Verizon to give away services?

Posted by kyriefurro Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

"Do you think Verizon is the only service that charges for GPS service on their phones? AT&T Navigator, Sprint Navigation, and Alltel Navigation all cost the same price as VZ Navigator, $9.99/mo or $2.99/day. T-mob doesn't even have it. Obviously the other carriers do the same thing because it is a premium service. "

The difference is that Verizon locks out the GPS completely unless you use VZ Navigator. Yes, the others charge for their navigation system, but the GPS chip is still active so you can use a third party solution if you prefer. Verizon customers don't have that option. Its VZ Navigator or nothing.

Posted by Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

"These exclusives that go beyond 90 - 180 days are just foolish in my opinion. There are plenty of folks out there like me who will never, ever switch to Verizon (insert some other carrier here if you like) no matter what kind of exclusive they have on a particular device."

I couldn't agree more. I wouldn't switch to AT&T for an iPhone even it it was as good as people want it to be. AT&T coverage in my area sucks. Its a large city and yet there are AT&T dead spots all over that I dont get on Verizon. Put that together with the 3G iPhone dropping calls in good areas and it makes me really glad I didn't switch to AT&T.

Posted by Anonymous Monday, Oct 13, 2008 1208 days ago

I understand but all the carriers do that. The navigation on T-Mobile is locked unless you purchase the plan. Every carrier have their own thing. I was with T-Mobile for 5 years and switched the VZW. There was always some extra charges on my phone bill will T-Mobile. I got sick of it and switched and could not be happier.

Posted by ndcoach29 Monday, Nov 10, 2008 1180 days ago

we have gps on or both of our bb and have never had to pay anything for it, ever.

Posted by Griphon Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1235 days ago

Ookay iPhone lovers... stop salivating, don't faint, breathe...

Posted by anonymous24 Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1235 days ago

GREAT VIDEO IT GOING TO CRUSH IT"S COMPETION!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND IF I WERE I WOULD BUY THE STOCKS RIMM AND VZ
Also I heard the verizon website is going to be up in a couple of days!!

Posted by Anonymous Monday, Sep 15, 2008 1235 days ago

Someone within VZW is getting fired! lol, I use to work for VZW and it's very obvious that this person broke a serious VZW Law. Especially when your monitor has a very specific message about reminding customers how to check their Balance "BAL" lol. Won't be long before VZW finds the culprit. I wonder if it was really worth it.

Posted by Rockdog97 Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

check out the price of the Thunder; $49.99.. you can see it in the background at 0:11 of the video... Hmmm

Posted by Rob B Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

If only that were true... unfortunately the $49.99 phone at 11 seconds appears to be some sort of flip phone.

Posted by iceykola Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/index.html

it's the samsung alias. it's right there on the homepage.

Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

Groundbreaking? I just read that the iphone app store is on track to sell a billion apps within 2009. This might be a sweet piece of software with limited applications. Its said but true.

Posted by sgtmilstack Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

Storm may not be groundbreaking in the apps dept, but it sure as heck groundbreaking in terms of the touchscreen.

Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 1235 days ago

I'm not sure what you are seeing, but I didn't see anything on the touchscreen that we haven't seen before. One touch scrolling, haptics, large screen and good reselution - seen them all. Let's see how smooth and user friendly it is before we annoint it the saviour; most of the other full touchscreen have crashed and burned in my opinion.