Posted by Mauricio on Oct 14, 2009 at 10:28 AM | Comments
Just got some fresh photos of a Verizon BlackBerry Storm2 dummy unit thanks to @Ackee_!
A few days ago I posted some promo flyers showing the Storm2 as being part of a buy-one-get-one free deal. At that time I said “I wouldn’t be surprised if it launched within a few days,” and it looks like I may have been onto something because, according to an article by the New York Times, Verizon and RIM might be launching the Storm2 this week!
This week, Verizon and R.I.M. are trying again with a Storm do-over, the Storm 2. Among its many improvements, the new phone gives the user the sensation of pushing a physical button when pressing a number on the glass touch screen.
Lowell C. McAdam, the chief executive of Verizon Wireless, has been carrying the revamped device for a few weeks, looking for any evidence that this time it will catch on. Mr. McAdam said that while he was recently visiting the Verizon store in New York’s SoHo district, he started talking to a couple of students from New York University who were shopping for cellphones.
“I let them play with the second-generation Storm device,” he said. “They came back and said ‘Oh, my gosh.’ They were very excited. This is what they hoped the original Storm should be.”
Vodafone Germany has the Storm 9520 listed as coming soon and Vodafone UK might also be launching the Storm2 this week, and since Best Buy is already getting accessories for it, a launch some time this week is definitely a possibility! Let’s not hold our breath though…
I’ve included a shot of the Storm2 dummy unit from behind after the jump. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 13, 2009 at 5:16 PM | Comments
AT&T let my buddy @ASacco know that the white BlackBerry Bold 9000 will be available to customers on October 18th through the AT&T website.
The new, blanc Bold will sell for the same price as the existing BlackBerry Bold 9000–$199.99 with a new two-year service agreement, after rebate. The BlackBerry Bold 9000 is an AT&T exclusive device in the United States, and the carrier first started selling the device in October 2008.
The only difference between the white and black Bold 9000 is the color, so if you prefer white and you like the Bold then this device is for you. Don’t forget that the Bold 9700 (aka Onyx), an upgraded version of the 9000 with more features in a smaller form factor, will possibly go on sale some time in November or early December.
Will you snag a white Bold 9000 when it goes live on the AT&T website, wait for the Bold 9700 or just get both? Let me know in the comments!
Here is a rough translation (courtesy of Google) of the text next to the Storm 9520:
The BlackBerry Storm 9520 is a phone as you want it to. The smartphone is equipped with the latest generation of a new type of touch screen (about 8 cm diagonal) to make easy text entry. For entertainment on the go is also provided. Photos come out with the 3.2 MP camera, you can surf the Internet via WiFi and you can navigate with the A-GPS receiver.
Earlier today I mentioned that Vodafone UK might be launching the Storm 2 this week. The Storm 9520 being listed as coming soon on the Vodafone Germany site could mean a network-wide launch.
If you find the Storm 2 listed on any other carrier sites let me know in the comments!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 12, 2009 at 12:41 PM | Comments
UPDATE Added a full-size image (packaging and all) after the jump. *
If there was any doubt, here is some more confirmation that the BlackBerry Storm 2 will be launching on Verizon very soon. @Ackee_ sent me a picture of a Verizon buy-one-get-one (BOGO) free flyer showing the “New Storm2″ next to its older siblings!
Earlier today I mentioned that Vodafone might be launching the Storm2 this week. If true, Verizon will probably launch either next week or the following week. Since Best Buy is already getting accessories for the Storm2 I wouldn’t be surprised if it launched within a few days, but let’s not push it .
Anyone else hear or see anything about the Storm2’s launch? Let me know in the comments or send me a message!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 12, 2009 at 10:46 AM | Comments
According to Engadget, BlackBerry Storm 2 accessories have started arriving at some Best Buy locations around the country. The model number is 9550 and apparently the Storm II and Odin names both appear on the front of these accessories instead of the more commonly used Storm 2 name seen around the web.
The Guardian.co.uk is reporting that Vodafone UK customers might see a Storm 2 launch this week. A few weeks ago Salomondrin let us know that this would be the case with Verizon possibly launching the Storm 2 a week later and Canadian carriers soon after that. If this turns out to be wrong we can at least bet that the launch before November 27th date is right.
According to BG and the invitation pictured above, T-Mobile will be throwing a “T-Mobile Go Bolder Event” for corporate customers on November 3rd in Los Angeles and on November 5th in New York. Those who attend will get complimentary breakfast and exclusive take-homes, the take-homes being free Bold 9700s!
Mmm…free breakfast and a brand new Bold 9700 sounds good to me.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 9, 2009 at 11:35 AM | Comments
Before I mention these dates I have to stress that they are just rumors until RIM and/or the carriers officially announce them.
That being said, these are the first specific launch dates for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 on not one, but two carriers! Engadget is reporting that T-Mobile and AT&T will both be announcing the Bold 9700 on October 21st while BGR says T-Mobile will announce it on November 11th. If you recall, Salomondrin said that we can expect a launch in mid November into early December.
While these dates don’t agree with each other, BG says that both the October 21st and November 11th launch dates are possibilities. So I guess it’s safe to say that November 11th is the latest possible launch date for the BlackBerry Bold 9700, which is only a month away!
It won’t be long now before we can all enjoy some new BlackBerry goodness.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 7, 2009 at 7:14 PM | Comments
Salomondrin has posted a picture of a Verizon branded BlackBerry Storm 2 9550!
We already know pretty much everything there is to know about this BlackBerry except for a specific launch date. Earlier today I mentioned that the release date was possibly pushed back, so right now we’re looking at a launch some time between mid October and late November.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 7, 2009 at 11:49 AM | Comments
This may come as a surprise to some of you but it looks like the launch of the Verizon Storm 2 might be getting pushed back.
Earlier details leaked by Salomondrin said that the Storm 2 would launch around mid-October and this info was further “confirmed” by a leaked Best Buy inventory image which showed the device as possibly getting launched on or around October 25th. According to a tip sent to Gizmodo, the Storm 2 and Curve 2 will be launching by Black Friday.
Black Friday lands on November 27th this year and while this could mean that the Storm 2 won’t launch till late November, it also means that it could launch anytime before Black Friday. If we consider both launch rumors for the Storm 2 then it looks like we can expect a launch anytime between mid October and late November.
The Curve 2’s launch seems to still be on the same track since an earlier rumor also said it would launch some time in late November.
So…which rumor do you think is right? Would the release of the Storm 2 getting pushed back tick any of you off?
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 6, 2009 at 4:51 PM | Comments
RIM has announced that the new BlackBerry Widget Software Development Kit (SDK) is now available for download. This SDK would allow developers to build web-based apps that take advantage of BlackBerry’s advanced features and functionality.
A BlackBerry Widget uses the BlackBerry® Browser engine torender an application’s user interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.Developers are able to use existing web content to create BlackBerry Widgetsand extend the capabilities of their web applications using BlackBerry WidgetAPIs.
Using the new BlackBerry Widget APIs, developers can, forexample, create seamless interaction between a widget and the BlackBerry emailand calendar applications, create widgets with the ability to view or editfiles and documents stored on the smartphone, access location-based services orthe media player, and more. Developers can also take advantage of RIM’s uniquepush technology, enabling dynamic widgets that can run in the background andprovide proactive alerts to users in a timely manner.
“BlackBerry Widgets open up a world of opportunities fordevelopers to build and bring to market web applications for BlackBerrysmartphones that offer advanced, integrated functionality and an always-on userexperience,” said Alan Brenner, senior vice president, BlackBerry platforms atRIM. “We are very excited by the prospects of this new widget developmentplatform which combines the ease of development of standard web languages withthe rich functionality of Java development.”
One thing about this announcement that stuck out to me is that in order for the BlackBerry Widgets to work the device must be running OS 5.0. Yesterday I mentioned that BBM 5.0 is rumored to be launching tomorrow, this too has features that require a BlackBerry to be running OS 5.0 in order for them to work. Does anyone else see where this is going?
For more info and to download the BlackBerry Widgets SDK visit blackberry.com/developers/widget or check out the press release after the jump.
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