DailyTech - Update: RIM Launches BlackBerry Storm2 Through Vodafone, Verizon

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Gadgets Update: RIM Launches BlackBerry Storm2 Through Vodafone, Verizon
Jansen Ng (Blog) - October 15, 2009 10:01 AM

33 comment(s) - last by quiksilvr.. on Oct 16 at 9:35 PM

Just in time for Christmas shopping

Smartphone maker Research in Motion is unveiling the BlackBerry Storm2. Model 9520 is being distributed for European customers, while North American carriers will offer model 9550. Its predecessor was the first BlackBerry to eschew a physical keyboard in favor of a touchscreen. It launched with mixed reviews, definitely not a good thing when you have competition like Apple's iPhone and the Palm Pre.

The Storm2 uses a similar 3.25 inch display. At 360 x 480 pixels, images and text look pretty good at its effective 184 ppi resolution. However, the Storm2 ships with the new BlackBerry OS 5 as opposed to OS 4.7 of the previous generation.

RIM claims that there are hundreds of enhancements in the new software, some of which will increase image quality of icons and text. An updated BlackBerry Browser boasts faster JavaScript and CSS processing, as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets. Applications developed for the original BlackBerry Storm are fully compatible with the Storm2.

On the hardware side, the Storm2 uses the same 528MHz MSM7600 CPU from Qualcomm as in the original Storm and BlackBerry Tour. The Storm2 uses a 1400 mAh battery that provides approximately 6 hours of talk time on 3G networks and 280 hours of standby time. A built-in 3.2 megapixel camera features variable zoom, autofocus, flash, video recording, and image stabilization. NVRAM and flash storage are both doubled at 256MB and 1GB respectively. The Storm2 will also support microSD/SDHC cards up to 32GB in size for extra storage.

The big news though is 802.11 b/g WiFi support, a feature that was sorely missed on the original Storm. The Storm2 will work worldwide, thanks to frequencies on UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM.

Both Verizon Wireless and Vodafone are targeted the lucrative Christmas shopping period. Vodafone customers in the UK and Ireland will be the first to get the Storm2, after which it will make its way to Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. It will also be made available in France, Italy and South Africa in time for Christmas.

Verizon customers in the U.S. will have to wait for the company's official launch.

Update: We have received updated model numbers from RIM, as reflected in the first paragraph.

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Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By Trisagion on 10/15/2009 10:45:30 AM , Rating: 2

I'm thinking of upgrading to a smartphone, but can't decide whether to get the Storm 2 or the Palm Pre. The Pre has a keyboard so I'm leaning a bit towards it now. I don't live in the US so the carrier it's on is not a issue for me.

RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By amanojaku on 10/15/2009 10:51:36 AM , Rating: 3

Just try them out. No one knows how much you'll like a product until you use it, even you.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By BigRedNole on 10/15/09, Rating: 0

RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By mikable on 10/15/2009 12:34:03 PM , Rating: 2

Well, I don't know anybody on Mars so that feature is lost on me. Do you know any other compelling reasons?

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By quiksilvr on 10/15/2009 7:42:01 PM , Rating: 2

Get the Samsung Moment. It has all the ingredients to be the best phone in the market:
1) 800 MHz Processor (dear God...)
2) Capacitive 3.2" touch screen
3) AMOLED screen
4) Android OS
5) 3.2 MP camera with flash and video recording
6) Physical keyboard that slides out
7) Samsung phones have very VERY low radiation
8) 3.5 mm headphone jack
9) $179.99 price tag with 2 year contract with Sprint
10) Free GPS and Sprint TV applications

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By xRyanCat on 10/15/2009 11:49:54 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
7) Samsung phones have very VERY low radiation

Why would that be a good thing? The very signal it uses to communicate with the towers and bluetooth and wifi are all forms of "radiation." None are likely to hurt you because they are of such low power. Low radiation would just mean a lower signal.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By lagitup on 10/16/2009 12:16:04 AM , Rating: 2

quote:

quote:
Samsung phones have very VERY low radiation
Why would that be a good thing? The very signal it uses to communicate with the towers and bluetooth and wifi are all forms of "radiation." None are likely to hurt you because they are of such low power. Low radiation would just mean a lower signal.

Firstly, the statement about Samsung phones having low radiation is factually incorrect. It depends on the phone, period. CNET has a list of more or less every phone ever, and the original storm comes in near the top of the chart in terms of low radiation output.

Secondly, the radiation measurement in question is the amount the body absorbs while the phone is raised to the ear and in a call, not the radiation carrying the signal to the tower.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By quiksilvr on 10/16/2009 9:35:17 PM , Rating: 3

I reject your reality and substitute my own:
http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/Get-a-Safer-...

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By lagitup on 10/16/2009 12:11:55 AM , Rating: 2

The HTC Hero is a pretty sick Android phone, as long as you can do without the keyboard. It has all the good things of the HTC TouchFlo series (I dearly love mine) but hold all the sucky things about Windows Mobile because it runs Android.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By Yawgm0th on 10/15/2009 11:20:43 AM , Rating: 2

If the touchscreen isn't a must, I can't recommend the Bold or Tour enough. If it is a must and you have the sense not to give up your keyboard, then Google has just about the best product on the market at the most reasonable price.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By theapparition on 10/15/2009 11:23:21 AM , Rating: 2

Do you want Verizon, Sprint, AT&T or T-Mobile.

Start there and figure out what's available with your carrier.

You couldn't pay me to use AT&T again, so whatever they have is off my selection list.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By jordanclock on 10/15/2009 1:45:56 PM , Rating: 2

Except they said they don't live in the US and carrier doesn't matter for them. I suspect that means they're in Europe where an unlocked version pretty much has to be released.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By theapparition on 10/15/2009 5:38:54 PM , Rating: 2

Well I certainly missed that part.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By Gio6518 on 10/15/2009 5:15:59 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
I'm thinking of upgrading to a smartphone, but can't decide whether to get the Storm 2 or the Palm Pre

the Pre is an incredible phone !
my only hang up with it is the 8gb storage.
they really should of added the ability too add a 32 GB microSD.

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RE: Storm 2 or Palm Pre

By Gio6518 on 10/15/2009 5:40:32 PM , Rating: 2

heres a video on the storm 2

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1558783/b...

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Finally Wifi

By corduroygt on 10/15/2009 10:56:41 AM , Rating: 4

No WiFi on Storm 1 was Epic FAIL.

RE: Finally Wifi

By FITCamaro on 10/15/2009 1:52:20 PM , Rating: 2

Now Verizon just needs to release it so I can get one.

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Focus should not be on WiFi

By petschska on 10/15/2009 1:38:41 PM , Rating: 2

I think the biggest improvement in the Storm2 over the original will be in the execution of the SurePress technology. With 4 buttons instead of 1, it will have consistent pressure, multi-press (can click in multiple places of the screen at the same time), and rebound is smoother because of the 4 buttons instead of 1. All of this will lead to far superior typing capability of any touchscreen phone, which its certainly the biggest drawback of any touchscreen phone.

I think this will be a very successful device.

RE: Focus should not be on WiFi

By Modeverything on 10/15/2009 2:20:15 PM , Rating: 2

My biggest issue with the original Storm was the touchscreen. Its touchscreen required too much pressure and I didn't like the necessary click you had to press for. I much prefer the feel of the iPhone's touchscreen. I am wondering if this new Storm will have the same touchscreen feel as the original. That will be a deciding factor for me.

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RE: Focus should not be on WiFi

By Roffles on 10/15/2009 11:33:26 PM , Rating: 2

This is why I am so confused about it all. I've been reading the reviews and sniffing around the crackberry forums and the general opinion towards the new screen is ambivalence. Nobody is really complaining yet nobody is raving over it either. I guess I'll need to get one in my hands and find out for myself.

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No love for Android?

By oTAL on 10/15/2009 12:41:37 PM , Rating: 3

quote:
It launched with mixed reviews, definitely not a good thing when you have competition like Apple's iPhone and the Palm Pre.

I find it amusing that the Pre gets mentioned a lot at DT while there is very little love for the Android as an iPhone competitor. Granted that the target market is a little different (there is a big overlap though) but the Android id the best mobile platform I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with. I have a Samsung i7500 Galaxy and it's not perfect but it's damn awesome.

Android is leaps and bound ahead of Symbian and I find it superior to the iPhone OS in most areas. I can't really compare it with the other OSs out there since I've only had a decent exposure to these.

Anybody with a Palm Pre can explain? Is it THAT good? I never even considered it when I got my new phone since I have my doubts it'll be around in the long run.....

RE: No love for Android?

By skyward on 10/15/2009 2:09:45 PM , Rating: 2

Palm Pre built quality is just ok. However for what it cost and the hardware in it, you do get what you pay for. The WebOS is very good. I would say it a better built then the Android when it first came out. I think that is one of the reasons why HTC and the other handset maker put in there our version of Android. The thing that so great about the WebOS is the UI. It is a very clean UI. Once you play around with it, it’s very clear that UI let you flow from one task to the next very easily. It has many things you will see in the iphone with the open OS. The only thing that is really missing with the Palm Pre is the number of APPs. Time will solve that problem with the Palm Pre.

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9520 and 9550 both exist

By AlterBridge86 on 10/15/2009 11:28:20 AM , Rating: 2

"It is model 9550, not 9520 as reported by other websites."

That's a lie...both the 9550 and 9520 exist. The 9520 will be going to Vodaphone for European countries, the 9550 will be available from Verizon in the US.

Same situation as Storm 1, 9530 for Verizon, 9500 for Vodaphone/Europe.

RE: 9520 and 9550 both exist

By FITCamaro on 10/16/2009 6:52:06 AM , Rating: 2

Is there any difference between the two phones other than the model number?

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buying gsm blackberry storm 2

By desmetsoccer09 on 10/15/2009 12:27:58 PM , Rating: 2

A Quick question about the new Blackberry Storm 2. I am currently on AT&T, and I am on contract for another year. If I was to buy an unlocked Blackberry Storm 2, would it have to be from Europe?

RE: buying gsm blackberry storm 2

By petschska on 10/15/2009 4:36:14 PM , Rating: 2

Both the Verizon and European model should work because AT&T uses the 1900 band. It would have to be unlocked of course. You will be limited to EDGE speeds (no 3G) on both phones, I believe. This is the way it was for the first Storm as well.

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By sprockkets on 10/15/09, Rating: 0

RE: .

By petschska on 10/15/2009 4:16:23 PM , Rating: 2

The Storm and Storm2 are "world" phones for Verizon, meaning they will have both CMDA and GSM radios so that they can work overseas. A SIM card comes with it for use overseas.

That's exactly what those bands are for...

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UI lag

By 4wardtristan on 10/15/2009 6:02:10 PM , Rating: 2

watching the video review on The Inquirer, it seems extremely responsive and snappy, much more so then my g1 or 3g iphone.

Seems more like a minor upgrade...

By jskirwin on 10/16/2009 2:12:40 PM , Rating: 2

I have a Verizon Storm and the Storm 2 looks like a dot upgrade. The biggest difference is the WiFi according to the article.

Why would I upgrade?

What I want to see:
1. A more responsive touch screen. Typing on the virtual keyboard is slow and tedious. Even selecting an icon is tough sometimes.

2. A more powerful antenna. Signal strength is a constant problem for this unit; my son's LG gets better reception than both my wife's and my storms.

3. Faster d/l speeds. This is not the phone's fault, but Verizon's 3G network reminds me of the bad old days of dial up where you click and wait. And wait. And wait.

4. Battery drain. It's bad but that's what you get for having what is essentially a 486 in your pocket.

The screen renders beautifully, and the camera is better than most. Apps are relatively plentiful although nowhere near as good as the iPhone selection.

Would I buy the phone again? Given that VZ has the best coverage in my area, probably. But I'd rather have seen RIM have fixed the Storm 1 before releasing what appears to be a half-baked Storm 2.