BlackBerry Storm (Verizon Wireless)

reply on March 31, 2009 by scrannel

As someone who travels to Europe and Asia this phone is silly. You are either data-roaming and voice roaming all the time, or you pay $64.99 for a voice roaming pack (does NOT include text messaging) and/or 69.99 for a data pack. That's $1619.76 a year. PLUS since Verizon will not unlock SIM, you have to use networks they have deals with (3G?). I'm on Tmobile. GSM (no dual system required). TMo unlocks phone free: I can use local SIM for reduced local calling. When I shut off data features I can talk AND use text messaging. Then, when I am in my hotel, I can go onto the hotel WIFI and take care of my data needs for a minor charge or free. Verizon obviously trying to find a way for customers to use their phone over-seas, But a very stupid over-seas solution (unless your company is paying for everything) and, domestically, I don't need CDMA. I have both a G1 and an iPhone, and the Storm is a far better business tool... if you never leave home.

reply on March 26, 2009 by zeeboie

You should write more reviews!! Very insightful and amusing...I just picked up a storm and am amazed at the number of features for the price. Can't believe I held out with Palm for so long.

reply on March 23, 2009 by Reiydu

- Blackberry Product quality on this device feels lower than most of their other products. (That click screen is really bad, I've already had complaints of it failing)
- If you don't factor in what your describing as "creature comforts" at the end of the day you only have a phone... who the heck just wants a phone?!?!? If I can have great network connectivity AND other great features why not have both, the technology exists in the market today.
- BB Bold v.s. Storm, bold wins hands down.
- The storm will never compete with the iPhone, I doubt Apple is even worried.
- Everyone I know that rushed out to buy this device now has either an iPhone or Bold.
- Who's paying you to promote the storm?

reply on March 6, 2009 by doggeroo

Good set of observations. I think when someone flames you for having an opinion on how a phone works, saying that it doesn't quite fit his (or her) definition of a review, they are a d**che-bag. I thought your critique was excellent.

reply on February 11, 2009 by osolumbr

Heres the deal for me. I was very impressed by this phone with the GSM technology built in for international roaming. But here's the deal with me. No Wi-Fi is definitely an issue for me because it makes life so much easier in the office where I work, due to its fast speed. Where I work, Verizon's 3G doesn't "work" here. On the other hand, I am quite jealous of my friends blackberry bold with the AT&T network which in his testing the 3G network IS FASTER THAN VERIZON'S! I've heard that EV-DO is proven to be faster. His was 820kbps and when i got 3G signal, mine was only 600. Not much difference, could be the browser emulation.

But seriously, I am now considering the Bold. However, i wish the storm had Wi-Fi, then i would be soo much happier. For the hardcore business user, i would use the Bold.

reply on January 27, 2009 by ambular832

Yes, you can import your Itunes library to your Blackberry storm. You have to use the Blackberry software that comes with the phone.

reply on December 9, 2008 by Blue4shizzle

this isnt a real review in my opinion.. sounds like you are just trying to compare it to the i-phone... since when did the i-phone become the perfect phone? just as many people hate the phone as to the ones who love it. in a review, you shouldnt really mention any other phone because its irrelavant. it also sounds like you have a grudge against the i-phone and att (look at all the un-needed comments towards them). in a review for a phone you shouldnt mention any other abstract things, you should simply talk about YOUR experience with the phone. this review wasnt really all that helpful at all, im not being harsh or impatient, just feel you wasted people's time who decided to read this review

reply on December 8, 2008 by test_tester3

thanks for the details

reply on December 2, 2008 by ryork272

It doesn't matter whether this device has WiFi or not, the Storm is buggy and not intuitive. I received mine the other day and cannot recommend this phone. My review is in CNET. You talk about "creature comforts" but to do the most remedial tasks with the Storm is an exercise in frustration. The touch screen blows. Because everything is menu driven (URGGH!) it needs a scroll wheel. It is not an intuitive device to use, which is its biggest problem. How many times has it crashed for you? And as far as syncing it with iTunes, have you installed the Device Management software? Its in there! Oh, but wait, it doesn't work! Surprise, surprise. Mine's going back to Verizon.

reply on November 26, 2008 by RogerOne0

No WiFi = no connectivity inside the office!? No WiFi for me, is a break on this device!!!

reply on November 23, 2008 by Littlewolf56

Thanks a lot for your very frank and honest review comments on the Blackberry Storm! I agree with the point Wi-Fi should not be a deal breaker. I thought the purpose of a cell phone was to serve as a cell phone, and the additional "creature comforts" were just that "nice to have extras".

I read just about every online reviews I could find on the Storm to determine if my upgrade is justified. I currently have a Blackberry 8820 provided with my job, but has limits on the cell phone minutes use. This results in my using my personal cell for just about all my calls. I'm hoping the Storm will met my needs for consolidating all for personal use.

Your review was one of the 2 or 3, that were not solely hung up on the subject of Wi-Fi. I established an account on cnet.com just to provide you with thoughts and appreciation for your consumer inputs. For the "non-techie" members of the community, you really provided some valuable assistance!

Thanks a lot!!!

reply on November 22, 2008 by mnichols79

I'm sorry; any touch screen device launched post iPhone is simply a poor man's iPhone wanna be. Verizon's network is only superior to T-Mobile's and Sprint's because of sheer size/coverage. At the end of the day, GSM is the global standard (otherwise 85% of the world wouldn't be using it), and CDMA is a limited technology.

reply on November 22, 2008 by big.mouth

Give it up and face reality. No wi-fi = TOTAL FAIL. You'll need that bigger battery if you're surfing 3G all day long.

reply on November 20, 2008 by imike12706

ANY cellphone manufacturer not putting wifi in Smartphone in this day and age are *expletive*...that goes for the carriers *cough cough you ****** bag verizon* too!! I dont care how big and great your network is (I'll admit Verizon's is the biggest no doubt) you will always have spots where you dont have coverage. Especially in the Storms case, if you are outside of EV-DO coverage, 1x-RTT on a blackberry browser id downright nerve racking and painful. There are many times you can be without "the greatest network" In your office building, in MANY of the areas that verizon doesnt have coverage, basement of your house, or if you just want to browse faster than Rev A allows you. Any smartphone without wifi is a waste of an attempt. I was and still am a HUGE blackberry fanatic, though i currently use an iPHone (and love it), i would take the BOLD over the STorm no questions asked. Not to mention the locked, single band UMTS for overseas = Fail. IN short, Verizon = Fail...again!

reply on November 20, 2008 by big.mouth

This is a spectacularly stupid review. You'll need infinite battery if all your surfing is over 3G. Face it, fanboy, no wi-fi makes this device a FAILURE.

reply on November 18, 2008 by berkfan

Well. let's face it. Wi-Fi is important to a lot of people, and they will choose their devices accordingly. I love VZ Navigator! And I'm lucky I'm not married, so I don't have to be careful about revealing the phone and other devices I have purchased and still use. By the way, is that review a columnist or a writer of some other genre? He should be! Whether one agrees with his assessment, I really enjoyed reading the review! I am indeed anticipating the availability of the BlackBerry Storm. I'll have to take a break from my job interview on Friday (Nov. 21!) to sneak in an order. Good show! Good apps!

reply on November 18, 2008 by tehpyro

You do know that the storm has software to work with itunes right?

reply on November 17, 2008 by TBird_Guy

I agree that WiFi should not be an issue, especially if the plan includes unlimited data. I don't have to search around for a hotspot if I'm not relying in the WiFi.

reply on November 16, 2008 by CNETFan4

Nice review, I found it very helpful. Another thing to add to"creature comforts" is XM Radio mobile availability, which is not available on iPhone. I'm up for a new contract and current AT&T customer but have serious coverage issues and drop calls all the time and am getting very annoyed. My friends who are iPhone users have bad issues w/ coverage and dropped calls. Their phone just turns out to be an iTouch for them since they can't seem to make a call, some have purchased ANOTHER phone on another service just b/c of the horrible coverage.

reply on November 16, 2008 by danielle9191

wifi shouldn't matter. if your getting the phone it is required to have a data plan (min. $30 extra a month). does anyone know if the screen will be glass?

reply on November 13, 2008 by s216674

How about you not deciding what is important for other people. Nice myopic statement that is something is not important to you, it shouldn't be important to others either. Get over yourself. WIFI is hugely important for me. I have no desire to pay for a data plan that I can for free through wifi centers. I agree that there is far more to a pda phone than just free internet access but for many it is hugely important.

reply on November 12, 2008 by dave1q1

I have an Iphone 3g and I solely rely on wifi to access the internet. After purchasing the phone i canceled the 30 dollars a month for 3g mobile internet totaling me saving 720$ for a 2 year contract. I pick up Wifi just about every place i go. im a college student and i have Wifi across campus and also at my house, so in my case the wifi capability would be a necessity. It may not be that big of a con, however don't just brush it off like its nothing. That's just my personal take on the matter

reply on November 5, 2008 by mkurz12

I agree with much of what you said. WiFi isn't a make or break for me as I would not be using this primarily for business purposes. As long as I can make phone calls, txt/pic messaging, internet browsing and online email it would work for me, as far as features go.
The make or break for me will be the RIM Touch Screen Technology.
I am looking forward to trying the storm out for myself and see what the keyboard feels like. Someone made a comment that RIM has gone backwards as far as touch screen tech, but in my opinion they know that as "cool" as the touch screens are they can't stand up to an actual keyboard when it comes to typing e-mails and documents. I see this as their way of having a touch screen that is as close to a real keyboard as possible.
Here's to hoping it is as good as one. If not I may be going with the Balck Berry Curve on my next upgrade.

reply on November 2, 2008 by ralotter

The ONLY reason the Storm doesn't have WiFi is Verizon! RIMM put the WiFi on the Bold and obviously has the technology. Verizon doesn't want WiFi competing with their network, which is much faster than AT&Ts. When you are using WiFi you aren't also using the data plan and thus not making VZ more money.

reply on October 29, 2008 by mtgiuliano

From my viewpoint Verizon needs to hear the "Why no Wi-Fi?" question, since they presently have only one smartphone that offers it. I will be upgrading both my own phone and two teenagers. My daughter wants a Blackberry 8130...yet Sprint offers the 8120, which is basically identical except it has WiFi. I do not need the web on my phone for business and cannot justify spending $30-$40 a month for it. Yet sometimes carting around two teenagers I ended up waiting around and would utilize WiFi. I just get the feeling that Verizon thinks it is being cheated if we use any airwaves and are not paying them.

reply on October 26, 2008 by gerrald54

Right on! As a canadian i am very proud that the best smart phone will be made just west of toronto. Americans, forget the junk made in china and buy north american. Canada is your largest trading partner. If everyone in north america tryed to buy goods made here the downturn in the economy would be less severe. I will be the first in line for this phone.

reply on October 19, 2008 by vuducandi

the iPhone has NO gps, only google maps and locator service through AT&T. The main reason for having a mobile phone is service. I have an iTouch which i adore and got after playing with my boyfriend's iPhone and all the lovely apps. However, it used to be that i would rely on his previous Sprint service when my own tmobile would be "indisposed". But then he jumped ship for the iPhone and now he relies on my puny sidekick when AT&T craps out on him due to dropping calls or no service at all. I was waiting for my contract to end and go with Verizon, the dare looked very sexy. Now i might just become...a Crackberryhead!

reply on October 17, 2008 by garthfan1061

Anyone heard of this offering complete system updates and free upgrades (hate to say it, but *cough*cough*...) like the iPhone?

I'm also not understanding the usefulness of a touch screen that you have to physically depress to enter commands...? We've got no-push-touch-screen technology; Heck, even my new universal remote has a freakin' "tap-touch" screen- without having to actually push on buttons. Isn't this why we developed touch screens to begin with?! Maybe I missed the advantage of this "technology" somewhere, but to me, it seems like a step backward. Are we trying to re-invent the wheel here?

I have to say it: WI-FI (yes, I hear the 'BOOS'). Why do you think metropolitan areas are putting in city-wide wi-fi systems?! It's a better connection! It allows for faster transmission of data and a lot of wireless private networking is only available through wi-fi. For a 2008 business-class phone to omit wi-fi is like your new 60" flat screen plasma TV not offering a HDMI connection.

reply on October 16, 2008 by MB0320TB

With regard to tladerach001's reply, you are the epitome of why I wrote my review. Whether or not it manages my library is irrelevant?? Really? Then why is anyone comparing ANYTHING to the iPhone?? It's an iTouch with phone capabilities and an App Store!! I seem to recall mentioning a whole heckuva (excuse the language) lot of other reasons why this phone was exciting.

Go back to 1Infinite Loop and let the rest of us have an intellectual conversation about things.

And didn't you write a review asking how anyone could possibly write a review since it isn't out yet?? Well, I ask you, how can anyone possibly write a reply to a review when the phone isn't even out yet then??

reply on October 15, 2008 by tladerach001

The Storm is not an iPod, or a competitor, so whether or not it manages your library is irrelevant. Its purpose is being a BlackBerry device to keep you connected to internet and email. Listening to music on it is supposed to be secondary though people are wishful that this is a so called 'iPhone kiler.

reply on October 15, 2008 by ray.kemp

Great review, but I feel I must comment on the WIFI. Business users like ourselves use WIFI as a means of conencting to the local business network, as well as getting feeds from MEDIA or DOCUMENT SERVERS within our network. Only WIFI or a physical network connection makes this possible. So I am afraind, although I love this device ... and I have never really been a Blackberry fan, so I am always open minded to new devices.
The iPhone does not really feature either. The problems our guys have had trying to get connected to Exchange, and other business applications. I do wish Apple would acknowledge Microsoft exists, and vica versa.
So at the moment, unless things change or we can find a workaround ... the missing WIFI means the Storm is not going down a storm with us. It is that crucial.
But great review. Just wanted to show another side to the argument.
Regards...

reply on October 14, 2008 by latoure

unfortunately, this product will get hit for the lack of Wi-Fi because the iPhone has it, Its that simple. if others are like me, I will wait for their next generation storm and hope they get smart and add this critical feature. Otherwise, this first generation is pretty cool, just not for me yet.

reply on October 14, 2008 by sdottin83

Not much to say, I just enjoyed your review! I'm going back and forth between leaving TMobile for the Storm or staying for the Pearl flip. Thanks for the insight (and the comedy!)

reply on October 11, 2008 by nks1521

you have in your cons that your wondering if you can sync with your itunes. from what i know that is a feature on this device

reply on October 11, 2008 by calculatorwatch

Good analysis (since it's not really a review). Very good points, the only things I would mention are that the app store really probably not be as good. It's run by verizon so I get the feeling that nothing will be free since verizon is determined to milk every penny they can out of their customers. But I guess you can still install things without the app store so it won't be as big of a deal. Also verizon usually locks down gps unless you pay $10 a month but from the preview it seems like that might not be the case. That'd be good if it wasn't because it'd really suck if the iPhone had free gps and the storm didn't. Also the removeable battery is definitely a plus since even though it only has a half hour more talk time then the iphone, people who find the battery running out too quickly can just buy a spare and not have to deal with one of those big battery packs that you stick to the bottom on your iphone.

reply on October 11, 2008 by rskolin

Very well done! My son lives in NYC and has had the same situation you describe happen to him many times. He can use his Verizon-networked Blackberry Pearl, while his friend has a useless iPhone because of no signal or continually dropped calls. We've grown so accustomed to "do it all" phones that it's getting plain ridiculous.

Again, nice review.