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Verizon Reports 1 Million BlackBerry Storms Sold

by Kevin Michaluk on 27 Jan 2009 01:44 PM
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One Million BlackBerry Storms

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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77 Comments

Posted by Dark Cobra Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

I can't wait for version 2 either . . .

 
 
Posted by bubbatex Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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?

 
 
Posted by mpkav Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

How many have been returned??!!! Does that number include replacements???

 
 
Posted by Nfred Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

Just because you think the iPhone is God's greatest gift to man.. COME ON. GET over it. Blackberrys are here to stay

 
 
Posted by dwp1975 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

Does the 1 million count exclude returns?

 
 
Posted by David522 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

I say about a billion

 
 
Posted by blacktoothberry Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

I never replaced mine

 
 
Posted by dwp1975 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

They may have included each new replace as a unit moved, something about them claiming a million sold seems misleading.

 
 
Posted by dmahoney94 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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

 
 
Posted by graymulligan Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

I wonder what number I am in that one million?

Still absolutely loving mine. I want themes now though. :(

 
 
Posted by STORM FAILS Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

1 Million is really pretty pathetic. Didn't Apple sell at least that many iPhone 3G's their first weekend?

 
 
Posted by dirtyjersey Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by Some Chick Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

ROGERS isn't selling it bud.. bell and telus are

 
 
Posted by blacktoothberry Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

Rogers is to selling the Storm

 
 
Posted by MacVicta Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by dmahoney94 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by Jeremy Vesely Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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

 
 
Posted by MacVicta Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by blacktoothberry Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

The Storm can do so many more things than the iphone can do now.And its cheaper .Hummmmmmm

 
 
Posted by ddarvish Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

hardly. apple sold 2.4 million iphone 3g's in 3 months. i think verizon is holding its own!

 
 
Posted by nategiggity Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

congrats to verizon...i am still digging my storm...to all the apple fan boys you can suck on it cause this phone rocks!!

 
 
Posted by yhwhsozo Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by cavs fan Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

NOT LIKELY BUT ITS A KEEPER

 
 
Posted by blacktoothberry Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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

 
 
Posted by DonTon Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

Wonder how many Storms have been sold worldwide.

 
 
Posted by korp Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by Jeremy Vesely Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by MacVicta Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by CurvePXL Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 1106 days ago

good point.

 
 
Posted by kcken Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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....

 
 
Posted by Unicorn56 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by matheudr Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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...

 
 
Posted by conazo Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by jef400dread Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 1106 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by Daylove0000 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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

 
 
Posted by rimbuk Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by conazo Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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.

 
 
Posted by Valium Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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

 
 
Posted by ChuckH0308 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

I like mine (purchased at release) so much I'm looking for another one!

 
 
Posted by rjflecther Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

version two? what, where, when, and why?

 
 
Posted by rjflecther Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

version two? What, where, when, and why?

 
 
Posted by GS327 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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...

 
 
Posted by CurvePXL Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 1106 days ago

sounds more like a network problem than a phone problem.

 
 
Posted by jef400dread Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 1106 days ago

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!!!

 
 
Posted by MongeJ87 Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

Not For Crackberry Fiends.....A Milli, A Milli, A Milli, A Milli, A Milli, A Milli.....

 
 
Posted by ddarvish Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

A Millionaire, I'm a Young Money Millionaire....

 
 
Posted by Richa13er Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

Mom always said I was one in a million. Guess she was right.

 
 
Posted by donefsky Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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....

 
 
Posted by Nfred Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 1107 days ago

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!

 
 
Posted by Marlo Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009 1106 days ago

... a GREAT idea!!!

 
 
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