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Yesterday's WSJ article which touted that the BlackBerry Storm was off to a bumpy start was enough to make the value of RIM's shares drop a few %. Ouch. Today Verizon responded with their fourth quarter earnings results, which in contrast have pegged the Storm as their big winner for the quarter. Via Computer World:
The BlackBerry Storm smart phone, put on sale Nov. 21 exclusively by Verizon in the U.S., has sold 1 million units through January, company officials said today.
"That's not a bumpy start," a spokeswoman said today, in reaction to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal that characterized the rollout and a quick software update as "bumpy."
The success in the wireless segment included sales of the Storm, which was built by Research in Motion Ltd. Today's earnings statement included a few short references to how "customers across the country lined up to purchase the new BlackBerry Storm," when it went on sale Nov. 21.
Congrats on a Million! Call it a winner or a loser, you can't argue that CrackBerry Nation has grown by leaps and bounds with the launch of RIM's first touchscreen BlackBerry. I can't wait to see what version two looks like!
[ via Computer World ]
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Dark Cobra Jan 27, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I can't wait for version 2 either . . .
bubbatex Jan 27, 2009 at 1:56 pm
As far as other BB's go? That seems like a good number for basically 2 months (and maybe another week). Are there similar numbers somewhere for the Bold or Curve?
mpkav Jan 27, 2009 at 1:56 pm
How many have been returned??!!! Does that number include replacements???
Nfred Jan 27, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Just because you think the iPhone is God's greatest gift to man.. COME ON. GET over it. Blackberrys are here to stay
dwp1975 Jan 27, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Does the 1 million count exclude returns?
David522 Jan 27, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I say about a billion
blacktoothberry Jan 27, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I never replaced mine
dwp1975 Jan 27, 2009 at 1:59 pm
They may have included each new replace as a unit moved, something about them claiming a million sold seems misleading.
danieljm94 Jan 27, 2009 at 2:48 pm
of course they only use a very brief comment about people being too picky about the phone. in truth, i sent a 7 paragraph response defending the capabilities of the storm to the original article in the WSJ from my storm, hence why i was quoted this time around.
if you'd like to see the email exchange, just send me a message.
DM
graymulligan Jan 27, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I wonder what number I am in that one million?
Still absolutely loving mine. I want themes now though. :(
STORM FAILS Jan 27, 2009 at 3:02 pm
1 Million is really pretty pathetic. Didn't Apple sell at least that many iPhone 3G's their first weekend?
dirtyjersey Jan 27, 2009 at 3:10 pm
It took the first iphone 74 days to sell a million units, so its right on par with the Storm.
As for the 3G. That device sold 1 million units in the first 3 days, HOWEVER, it was selling simultaneously in 21 countries. This WSJ article claims 1 million 9530s by VZW. not including the vodaphone or rodgers versions.
I'd say that its pretty impressive.
Some Chick Jan 27, 2009 at 4:20 pm
ROGERS isn't selling it bud.. bell and telus are
blacktoothberry Jan 27, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Rogers is to selling the Storm
MacVicta Jan 27, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Let's not forget that the iPhone was $499 and $599 during the vast majority of those 74 days.
Not to mention that it was released in a climate far more hostile to full touchscreen devices and it was the handset that paved the way for smartphones like the Storm.
You really can't compare the two releases. The iPhone was a trailblazer and the Storm followed in the footsteps that were left behind.
danieljm94 Jan 27, 2009 at 10:23 pm
let's also not forget the iphone came out while the economy wasn't quite in the crapper (in the US, anyways), though it was certainly headed there. Also take note the storm was released during one of the slowest holiday seasons on record - a market hostile for buying ANYTHING, period. not trying to start an argument, just putting this in context.
edit: noted unicorn56 said the same thing below. oh well, it's worth repeating.
Jeremy Vesely Jan 27, 2009 at 4:27 pm
This is a 2nd Gen device!!! I'm sure if Blackberry Storm users had a previous base and found out there's a new and improved model coming out that the beginning number would be much much stronger.
Totally unfair as the iPhone only sold 217,000 units in the first quarter according to MacWorld.
As I like to back my comments with evidence, you can view the Earnings here:
http://www.macworld.com/article/134604/2008/07/appleearnings.html
MacVicta Jan 27, 2009 at 8:33 pm
That's because the "quarter" ended days after the iPhone was released in June 2007, buddy. Stop playing loose with the facts.
The iPhone sold a million units in its first full quarter ending September. The majority of those sales took place at the prices of $499 and $599 and even after the price drop to $399, it was still a full $200 more than the BlackBerry Storm today.
The dynamics of smartphones are also drastically different since the Storm arrived to a public clamoring for touchscreen devices as opposed to the iPhone which had to CREATE that clamor.
blacktoothberry Jan 27, 2009 at 11:41 pm
The Storm can do so many more things than the iphone can do now.And its cheaper .Hummmmmmm
ddarvish Jan 27, 2009 at 3:07 pm
hardly. apple sold 2.4 million iphone 3g's in 3 months. i think verizon is holding its own!
nategiggity Jan 27, 2009 at 3:11 pm
congrats to verizon...i am still digging my storm...to all the apple fan boys you can suck on it cause this phone rocks!!
yhwhsozo Jan 27, 2009 at 3:15 pm
There are SO many more benifits that the Storm has over the iPhone. I am glad that I can take a phone call indoors and not have to walk outside to take a phone call. The iphone has ALL those apps, but no video camera? no turn by turn GPS? I could list more reasons why the Storm is better than iPhone. But I dont want to type out all that. lol. Dont get my wrong, the iphone is a cool device. But the Storm exceeds it by far.
cavs fan Jan 27, 2009 at 7:08 pm
NOT LIKELY BUT ITS A KEEPER
blacktoothberry Jan 27, 2009 at 11:46 pm
3.2 camera verse 2.0 , no mms on the iphone , no stereo bluetooth on iphone , no cut and paste on the iphone , no memory upgrade on the iphone , no removable battery , and can not teather with your laptop
DonTon Jan 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Wonder how many Storms have been sold worldwide.
korp#IM Jan 27, 2009 at 3:44 pm
People say bumpy because some have had device problems and had to take them back. However these people don't say anything about most just exchanging and once they have a good working device love it.
Jeremy Vesely Jan 27, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I agreed with Wall Street Journal until this came about:
"That is a promising start, though well off the pace of AT&T Inc.'s sale of 2.4 million iPhone 3G devices in that device's first full quarter on the market."
This is a 2nd Gen device!!! I'm sure if Blackberry Storm users had a previous base and found out there's a new and improved model coming out that the beginning number would be much much stronger.
Totally unfair as the iPhone only sold 217,000 units in the first quarter according to MacWorld.
As I like to back my comments with evidence, you can view the Earnings here:
http://www.macworld.com/article/134604/2008/07/appleearnings.html
Just goes to show that that everyone is biased against this device.
MacVicta Jan 27, 2009 at 8:45 pm
That's because the "quarter" you cited ended days after the iPhone was released in June 2007.
The iPhone sold a million units in its first full quarter ending September. The majority of those sales took place at the prices of $499 and $599 and even after the price drop to $399, it was still a full $200 more than the BlackBerry Storm today.
The dynamics of smartphones are also drastically different since the Storm arrived to a public clamoring for touchscreen devices as opposed to the iPhone which had to CREATE that clamor.
The WSJ is correct to compare the Storm to the iPhone 3G as they were both $199 and released at a time when touch was the norm instead of a question mark.
MursePaolo Jan 28, 2009 at 2:21 am
good point.
kcken Jan 27, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Yeah, the phone doesn't have iFart and iZit (my gosh!), but it gets my work email without FAIL, and I don't EVER miss a single phone call.
I'm also pretty stoked about the upcoming APP store. That should sell a few more handsets if they can get some good apps out there for a reasonable price....
Unicorn56 Jan 27, 2009 at 4:35 pm
The Storm has sold very well considering that it debuted during one of the worst ecomonic downturns in recent history. The original iphone hit long before things started to get really bad. Sales of a million for such an expensive, non-essential item (yes I can live without my Storm, but I would NOT be happy) in these times is actually impressive.
matheudr Jan 27, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Unicorn56, you made an excellent point: the Storms sales numbers are impressive considering the current economic environment. I am one of those who did not need it but chose to have it (and love it). After buying the phone, I realized how it will help me on so many fronts...
conazo Jan 27, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Hey Unicorn56 got to give it to you, you made an excellent point and the best out of all in this thread. we are facing the worse financial recession since the great depression. and yet Verizon Sells 1 Million! The Storm is the best phone on the market Period. eventhough it has its minor bugs and glitches but what phone does not have, when it is first launched? it is normal the iPhone had bugs too and took time to get everything fixed, when RIM finishes with the storms last software it will be the best phone in history or one of the best.
jef400dread Jan 28, 2009 at 10:32 am
this arguement going back and forth amongst iphoners and stormers about sales, who sold when in what quarter and in how many countries is really only indicative of popularity. The iphone has been more popular to this point for several reasons. I have owned a storm since it released, and have only briefly used an iphone. If i had to do it over again, knowing what i know now (being a beta SUCKS), i would have unquestionably bought an iphone 3g on 11/21/08.
Daylove0000 Jan 27, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I can't believe there are 1 million unsavvy customers out there. I love my Bold but as this guy says RIM should stick with what works. RIM has seriously tarnished its reputation with this buggy device not even close to be as good as the iPhone.
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/164505/The-Storm-BlackBerry's-Black-Eye?tickers=%5Eixic,AAPL,rimm,palm,vz
rimbuk Jan 27, 2009 at 6:09 pm
They have tarnished their names? really?
Seems to me like every comment on this post previous to yours is a happy Storm customer. In fact, you're the only one complaining and the only one who doesn't have a Storm. Coincidence?
Even the guy in the link you sent out said he's never been a fan from the start. Guess what? The Storm isn't for everyone... just like the iPhone isn't for everyone.
That article/video is so ridiculously biased (both the guest and the host) that it really shouldn't be given much merit.
conazo Jan 27, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Dude You are the biggest Ignorant on this thread, i guess you are a novice, and don't know much about the storm buy it first play with it for about 2 weeks, and you'll see how you will trash your bold.
Valium Jan 27, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Having owned both Iphone 3g and then Storm - I have to say the Iphone is a great device - but its use of AT&T just killed me. What is the point of a phone if so many calls are dropped - or you have so many areas with no service. I have updated my Storm to .90 - and I really have to admit - I love the damn thing. It works very well - and does everything I need. Heck it even does kooky things like MMS, and lets me complete all of my phone calls while moving!!!! - Amazing
chuckh0308 Jan 27, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I like mine (purchased at release) so much I'm looking for another one!
rjflecther Jan 27, 2009 at 6:42 pm
version two? what, where, when, and why?
rjflecther Jan 27, 2009 at 6:42 pm
version two? What, where, when, and why?
GS327 Jan 27, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Yah iPhone/Apple has developed a cult following for their products. Kudos. The gf swears by her iPhone. Everytime her battery runs out and has to use my Storm, she makes a point of how inferior my Storm is. I remind her she doesn't have to stand by the window to make her call. Luckily I also carry an extra battery...
MursePaolo Jan 28, 2009 at 2:22 am
sounds more like a network problem than a phone problem.
jef400dread Jan 28, 2009 at 10:13 am
Ive had a Storm since the launch date. Should be getting my 3rd one (replaced twice) today. The two times ive been outside of the "the network" in the mountains, an At&t customer has had service. At least via wifi, which my Storm doesnt have. I know this phone has great potential and maybe in a year it'll be as user friendly as the iphone, but I'LL NEVER BE ANOTHER BETA!!!
MongeJ87 Jan 27, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Not For Crackberry Fiends.....A Milli, A Milli, A Milli, A Milli, A Milli, A Milli.....
ddarvish Jan 27, 2009 at 7:54 pm
A Millionaire, I'm a Young Money Millionaire....
Richa13er Jan 27, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Mom always said I was one in a million. Guess she was right.
donefsky Jan 27, 2009 at 7:12 pm
It came out a version too soon, needed an update and a few more to follow for fine-tuning, was complicated for new users, and frustrated them. Those that didn't quit on the device, learned the potential of it. Look at the last 30 reviews for the Storm on Phonescoop.com and the answer is quite apparent. The phone is terrific and it's only limitation is perhaps the user who cannot appreciate what it can accomplish....
Nfred Jan 27, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Now they just need a 'Type on Touch' feature that allows for super fast typing! Give us the option RIM! 'Type on Click' or 'Type on Touch' it's that easy!
Marlo Jan 28, 2009 at 3:25 pm
... a GREAT idea!!!
valium Jan 27, 2009 at 8:22 pm
My Wife still clings to her Phone - even though she drops no less than 5+ calls a day as she drives around a town with 100,000 people. Yet AT&T can get service right. Again - what is the point of a phone if you can't make calls - or god forbid want to text someone a picture - holy cow...oh ya right - it just works LOL
pleyva05 Jan 27, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I bought 2 storms One for me and my wife. Its taking some getting use to. But i'm not regretting it one bit. I'm waiting for another firmware update and the launch of the Blackberry App store.
234)(*(*( Jan 27, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I am currently on version .90. It is better than the others. Still horrible by blackberry standards. How about we not add features and useless full screen portrait keyboards until the rest of the OS works as it should.
Anonymous111 Jan 27, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Please read:
http://i.gizmodo.com/5083371/a-call-for-revolution-against-beta-culture
jay0heavenly Jan 27, 2009 at 10:25 pm
That's impressive...I really didn't think they'd sold that many... It won't be a million and one though... I'll stick with my BOLD and Jailbroken Iphone 3G!!! ;-)
Returns How Many Jan 27, 2009 at 10:37 pm
It would be interesting to know how many units were returned... out of the 1 million units sold.
Sarrus Jan 27, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I love my Storm. Almost didnt get it because of all the negative press.
My Storm works perfectly and is the best phone / gadget I have ever owned.
Tricks Jan 27, 2009 at 11:00 pm
and I'll buy one as well. Work out the kinks and make it happen.
blacktoothberry Jan 27, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Nice job
Optimusv2 Jan 28, 2009 at 12:45 am
I'm happy to see it doing so well. It's an amazing device.
I can't do without it.
rod11 Jan 28, 2009 at 12:55 am
Question i would like to know is how many of those were returned.
lohjack Jan 28, 2009 at 1:10 am
I'm another happy storm owner. Didn't have to return. Newbie - still learning how to use it, looking forward to 90, but it does everything I need it to do, very dependable.
MursePaolo Jan 28, 2009 at 2:23 am
funny. i don't see anyone walking around with or pulling out their blackberry storms.
robotaholic Jan 28, 2009 at 3:08 am
Hey at least no storm users complained of BURNING THEIR FUCKING FACES OFF FROM THE BATTERY like iphone users did
ehe
numb683#cb Jan 28, 2009 at 7:36 am
Congrats Storm, and I think all the haters need to realize that with any first gen phone its going have some kinks to work out much like the first and newest iPhone.
I understand peoples lack of love for the operating system but I still have .75 installed and the phone works great with no major issues as most people describe, but hey maybe Im just lucky or not incompitant Idk.
xand83 Jan 28, 2009 at 9:11 am
I'm on .75 still and love my Storm. I wish suretype weren't so sure of itself sometimes, but I guess Pearl owner can complain about that too.
07thking Jan 28, 2009 at 9:21 am
I wonder how many people apple pays to dump on products that blows theirs away! Storm rocks! Feeling strong my friend? try getting my storm away from me!
cavs fan Jan 28, 2009 at 9:34 am
Lets be honest people if verizon was to release a iphone today i would throw this storm right in the middle of the street and run it over myself,and i would not be the only one.But its good enough for now.I will take verizons service 0ver AT&T's service all day every day
jef400dread Jan 28, 2009 at 10:58 am
if verizon did that, i would buy the iphone even if i had to buy it out right, get stuck with my storm, AND sign a new contract
wcihlu Jan 28, 2009 at 1:06 pm
anybody read this article:http://www.pcworld.com/article/158381/its_official_blackberry_storm_is_n...??
it states only half a million storm has been sold since november??
pc world publish this article but the figures are from the wall street journal.
MusicLaw Jan 28, 2009 at 1:36 pm
The WSJ article reports:
"A Verizon Wireless spokesman declined to comment on specific sales figures for the Storm, but said the percentage of units returned is in the single digits...."
I can only add that during the four (4) weeks following the Storm's introduction, I regularly visited the Verizon Store to get as much hands on time of the Storm demo units and those of one Verizon Store employee in my evaluation of the handset. During each of my several visits, there was an unrelenting flow of disgruntled Verizon Customers returning their Storm handsets!! And, many, including myself have left Verizon in favor of AT&T's BlackBerry Bold or iPhone offerings.
I don't care about Verizon's PR spin touting their unit sales figures. The reality is that if you take a look on the street or ask your business associates, colleagues and neighbors what they're now using and what they previously were using, a great number of responses are that customers have left Verizon and gone to AT&T.
The plain truth is that Verizon's handsets have been constrained and limited by Verizon's policies and decisions, and the market is sick and tired of it and not taking it anymore. There is no doubt the Storm handset will improve over time, but for the time being it remains, lethargic, buggy and satisfying only to those that can tolerate such factors.
pkcable Jan 28, 2009 at 2:33 pm
The people who had to go thru 5 or 6 Storms to get a good one does that count as 1, or more, towards the 1 Million. ;) j/k
EDIT: Don't get me wrong folks, I love my Storm, BUT it took me a return (just 1 for me) to get a good one. ;)
JRoadZ Jan 28, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I've never replaced mine either. And I do IT for one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms here in NYC and I tell client's who buy the Storm 1) there is a learning curve involved, 2) to be patient with the device- it has its quirks, and 3) the iPhone was not perfect right out of the gate either. The new software updates just make it better.
On another note, when I hear of people exchanging the device because their corner is sticking....ughhhh, I just want to tell them to return it all together as this device is not for them. My corner sticks sometimes and I just deal with it. Knock on wood, I'm still on my first device and I got it on launch date. At that rate, that person will go through a replacement device every month at that rate if they complain about their corners sticking...and thus not be happy with the device.
FYI for the Storm haters...of the 15K Blackberry users here at the Big 4 Accounting Firm I work for (yes, we have 15 BES servers)...it's NECK AND NECK. 741 Bold's versus 702 Storm's activated on our servers throughout the US.
Peace all!
Joe Dirt Jan 28, 2009 at 8:06 pm
a friend of mine is a vzw manager and has already been through 9 of them. I think the 1 million is skewed. Blackberrys are awesome phones. the storm has had more glitches than the 81XX 83XX and 88XX series all together. Give it a year and it will rock sock for real
ewbear Jan 28, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Congratulations to Verizon, the BEST cellular service in the nation!! I just wish they'd get the OS on their flagship device corrected totally. Oh well, I guess you can't have it all!!
lovethiz Jan 28, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I got my storm the wed after it had come out and when I first held the device all I could say was WOW. My first impression was this phone is so beautiful until I powered it on right lol. After I had turned it on I was like wtf buggy as hell after about 2 days I seriously was thinking on returning it. Anyways after some time this phone had grown on me
lovethiz Jan 28, 2009 at 10:04 pm
I got my storm the wed after it had come out and when I first held the device all I could say was WOW. My first impression was this phone is so beautiful until I powered it on lol. After I had turned it on I was like wtf buggy as hell after about 2 days I seriously was thinking on returning it. Anyways after some time this phone had grown on me but There is defiantly some work to be done. This phone has the potential to be so much better and its a shame that the software IMHO is crappy. Some people say that can't wait for a version 2 to come out and I say why? This phone has everything hardware wise just needs a software tuneup and some sweet apps other then what it has. I dunno I love my phone but sometimes I just want be done with it and get something else.