We have heard all manner of launch dates for the Storm 2 9520 and the Storm 2 9550 (or should I call it the Storm2?).
For Verizon, we are seeing the BlackBerry Storm 9550 rumored to launch October 21st. This rumor comes from an internal Verizon email that was leaked showing a launch date for the Storm 2 to be October 21st.
There is also some evidence pointing towards a Storm2 launch for October 28th. This is loosely based on some Verizon BOGO material that was leaked. At the very least, we know that when the device launches, the carrier is pushing a very intense sales campaign with it. On a side note, does anyone else think writing Storm2 vs Storm 2 looks a little silly? It could easily be mistaken for a typo.
The Vodafone Storm 2 9520 seems to be launching about the same time as Verizon. While we haven’t seen many internal leaks on the subject, we are seeing a lot of promo materials going up in preparation.
Overall, these things tend to get delayed for any number of reasons and I would be really surprised if the carrier, being a giant cumbersome organization where the left hand doesn’t talk to the right hand, could actually peg a date and stick to it.
The 21st is a reasonable date, but could easily be pushed back closer to the end of the month.
While the software will be coming out with the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and the Storm 2 9550/9520, it isn’t clear when older BlackBerry devices will be privy to the upgrade.
At the very least, we know you won’t have to wait longer than January 1st, 2010.
The official statement from RIM is as follows:
“The roll out process has begun for BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 with the recent beta release of BlackBerry JDE 5.0 (BlackBerry Java Development Environment 5.0) to BlackBerry Developer Zone at www.blackberry.com/developers to prepare the BlackBerry developer community for pending device software releases. As can be expected, BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 will follow before the end of the year, as referenced in the “RIM Launches BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0″ press release that was issued at WES 2009 (http://press.rim.com/release.jsp?id=2309).”
Just out of curiosity, what device do you have and what OS are you currently running?
YouTube user Salomondrin hasn’t been having any problems posting videos of the BlackBerry Storm 2, while other users are seeing their videos ripped down by RIM’s legal department. Why? Probably because it’s good press. He does a good job of selling users on the Storm 2, and in the end it’s good for business. I’d like to see Salomondrin post something highly critical of the Storm 2, and see if he can keep the video up.
Sal gives the following 6 reasons why you should get the BlackBerry Storm 2:
1. The Storm 2 is better looking.
2. WiFi
3. Memory – Storm 2 has 138 MB of application memory and 1.8 GB on device.
4. Texting – the texting experience is much faster due to the new sensors underneath the screen.
5. Faster – Even though Sal is using a device with an older OS, it’s still much faster to browse through the menu options and go from landscape to portrait mode.
6. Better Camera
While having more memory, a better camera and a faster processor is great, it is still very close to the Storm 1. There doesn’t seem to be anything revolutionary going on with the device, and I think with more OS updates to the Storm 1, you could have a very similar experience.
Carriers everywhere are dumping the Storm 1 to make inventory room for the Storm 2, but they’re going to have to do a lot to sell us on the Storm 2. Your BlackBerry Storm is a very decent device, I’m just not seeing the great leap forward. Lets see what marketing has to say about this.
The BlackBerry Storm 2 has been somewhat confirmed for a late November launch date. Like we’ve said before, the Storm 2 is expected to launch around the same time as the Storm 1 last year (late November). This launch date is set to coincide with the holiday consumer blitz. The November release date will definitely be used as a benchmark, but the device will be held back a month if RIM thinks the device isn’t quite ready.
Also of note, Salomondrin, a YouTuber who has been leaking video of the BlackBerry Storm 2, posted a video that runs us through the new touchscreen interface. From the video, we know that:
When the device is powered off, the touchscreen glass doesn’t move.
When the device is on, the touchscreen glass moves up and down like the SurePress technology.
There is still a distinct pressing feeling a la Storm 1.
You can feel the screen click down on multiple points on the screen, indicating multiple contact points.
The video reviewer and the community think the prevailing theory here is that the technology behind the touchscreen interface is piezo electricity. The technology is demonstrated in the video as being similar to a sponge with a touchscreen layer on top. The idea is that the sponge is in reality a layer of piezoelectric cells forming a multiple contact touchscreen. While all of this is still in the air, it’s definitely a solid argument.
The BlackBerry Ninja over at Benezblog has posted leaked photos of the BlackBerry Storm 2 9520 aka The BlackBerry Odin.
So far, the device is rumored to have:
OS 5.0.0.138 and it’s running platform 4.3.0.28.
WiFi – awesome!
SurePress has been replaced by a new touchscreen technology that is apparently much better.
3.2MP camera
360×480 capacitive touchscreen display
UMTS/HSDPA (2100MHz)
Quad-band GSM and CDMA 1xRTT/EVDO Rev. A
This is beginning to look like a great device but it’s too early to say much about it. While the Storm 1 got a lot of bad press on the Internet, it was one of the least returned devices from Verizon. BlackBerry users want a good touchscreen device and this could be the king of touchscreen devices. Click through for more pictures of the Storm 9520 after the jump
The BlackBerry Storm 2 is rumored to launch around the same time as the original BlackBerry Storm (launched late November, 2008). While we haven’t heard anything official, BlackBerry Zone is saying that Vodafone UK is set to release the Storm 2 in October with Verizon following soon after in November.
While this is just rumor, it makes sense for a few reasons:
The BlackBerry Storm launched around this time last year.
It fits with the other devices set to launch, Curve 8520 in the summer, followed by the Onyx and then the Storm 2.
We’re approaching the Back-to-School and Christmas consumer blitzes, so RIM will be pushing as many devices as possible.
The original BlackBerry Storm had a lot of bad press from the Internet, even though it had an incredibly low return rate. This suggests that it was the blogosphere giving it bad search engine mojo while many happy customers simply didn’t voice their opinion. RIM will be working really hard to make sure that the Storm 2 is the device that everyone expects. So while the rumor may be true, it could easily be pushed back last minute if RIM isn’t fully satisfied with the device.
Just after Christmas last month, we posted some internal Rogers documents showcasing the BlackBerry Storm 9520, a GSM Storm variant that will feature 3G HSDPA and Wi-Fi. It appears now that the Storm 9520 is starting to peak out into public copy, as indicated by the image above. The image, sent to us by ‘Rogers Dude’ (but not RogersDude69 for some reason) appears to be part of a marketing package, meaning the Storm 9520 can’t be that far away if its on copy being sent out to stores.
Obviously, we have no release date yet for the BlackBerry Storm 9520, but we’ll see what our friends from Rogers can do.
While the rest of us were quietly enjoying the Holidays with our family, one lone blogger was out working the streets for the latest in BlackBerry leaks. My boy Troy Brown over at BlackBerry News has uncovered photos of two upcoming Rogers BlackBerry Releases: the BlackBerry Storm 9520 and the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 82xx.
Here’s what’s known about each device so far. Both will feature 3G HSDPA. The BlackBerry Storm 9520 will feature Wi-Fi and the Pearl Flip 82xx will feature asecondary video camera for video calling. Both will be coming to Fido as well. No word yet on eventual release dates, but it looks like we weren’t that far off previously. You can see more slides after the jump!
