T-Mobile UK has released OS 4.6.1.314 for the BlackBerry Curve 8520. This release contains a fix for the BlackBerry Browser bug I mentioned last month. For more info about this bug click here.

• Direct Download: OS 4.6.1.314 for the Curve 8520 from T-Mobile UK
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *

Just like they were the first to offer pre-ordering of the BlackBerry Storm2, Vodafone UK now has the Bold 9700 available for pre-order.

Those who pre-order the Bold 9700 can expect to receive it on October 28th (two days after the Storm2) for free on monthly pay plans from £35. For more info and to pre-order check out the Bold 9700 Vodafone UK page.

@ConorfromOrange, an Orange UK employee who works in the comms team, sent out the following tweet basically confirming that the Bold 9700 will also be available to Orange UK customers soon.

If you’re with Orange UK and know more details about the Bold 9700 let me know in the comments!

Earlier this morning Vodafone and RIM announced the availability of the BlackBerry Storm2. Vodafone UK has updated their site to allow pre-ordering of the Storm2. Those who pre-order the Storm can expect to receive theirs on October 26th.

According to an article by guardian.co.uk, the Storm2 will be exclusively available through Vodafone for only a few weeks.

Vodafone will have the handset as an exclusive in the UK, but only for a few weeks. RIM is understood to have demanded that the device be available to other operators after Vodafone joined Orange in successfully ending O2’s exclusive two-year deal with Apple for the iPhone in the UK.

It is unclear whether any of the other UK operators will be stocking the Storm 2 in time for Christmas, but by the start of next year – when Vodafone will finally be able to start shipping the iPhone – it is expected to be available on at least one other network, most probably Orange, which will also start selling the iPhone within the next few weeks.

The Storm 2 will be launched by Vodafone in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, France, Italy and South Africa, and Canadian handset maker RIM is hoping that it will get a more positive critical reaction than the first version, which went on sale last November.

If you’d like to pre-order the Storm2 you can find it on Vodafone UK’s site, or for more info check out the press release that was posted earlier today. The Storm2 features and specifications can also be found here.

Vodafone and RIM have made the BlackBerry Storm2 official!

The second generation of RIM’s innovative and award-winning touch-screen smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2 significantly improves the BlackBerry® touch-screen platform with new technology and new features to let customers stay easily connected to the people, places and things that matter most.

In the busy holiday gift buying period, customers in the UK and Ireland will be able to get the new smartphone first through Vodafone, and it will be offered exclusively by Vodafone in Germany, Netherlands and Spain. It will also be made available in France, Italy and South Africa in time for Christmas.

The BlackBerry Storm2 with BlackBerry OS 5 evolves the BlackBerry touch-screen platform with hundreds of hardware and software enhancements.

Pricing will be announced by the individual in-country operating companies and so far Vodafone UK will be offering the Storm2 free from £35 per month on a 24-month contract. Since Vodafone has officially announced the Storm2, according to earlier rumors, Verizon should be announcing it within the next week or so.

For more info (including hardware and software features) check out the press release after the jump or head to blackberry.com/storm!

CONTINUE READING »

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!

CONTINUE READING »

@acnst pointed out that the Vodafone Germany OnlineShop has the BlackBerry Storm 9520 listed as coming soon!

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!

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.

T-Mobile UK has released an OS update (v4.6.1.305) for the BlackBerry Curve 8520.

• Download: OS 4.6.1.305 for the Curve 8520 from T-Mobile UK
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *

Yesterday BlackBerry data services were down/lagging (again) across North America and it looks like BlackBerry users in Europe will soon be able to share in the fun! (No, it’s not actually fun.)

The following notice was sent to Dataoutages News by a UK carrier:

“There is a planned outage within the European BlackBerry network scheduled for the 26th September within the time window of 0200 and 0600 BST.  RIM expect the duration of the outage to be no more than 2 hours.

This outage will result in the loss of BlackBerry data services, and end users may be unable to send and receive BlackBerry messages

If you have any queries relating to this fault, please contact the BlackBerry support team by replying to this email or calling on the usual telephone number, quoting Case Reference  5424003.”

The outage in North America lasted longer than two hours so consider yourselves lucky if it’s  “no more than 2 hours”.

If you’re a European BlackBerry user and experience an outage on September 26th feel free to leave your carrier and general location information in the comments.

@Salomondrin is adding more fuel to the rumor fire by “confirming” some release info mentioned last week about the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and the Storm 2, along with bringing the Magnum back from the dead which is now known as the Dakota.

Storm 2: Mid October, but don’t be fooled, Verizon won’t be the first one releasing this berry, Vodafone will. Although Verizon is working really hard in order to get almost the same release as Vodafone my guess would be a week apart from each other, and then Canada will see the release soon after Verizon, if not at the same time.

Bold 2: Since RIM decided to push the Storm 2 first, they want to give the second generation Storm a little air in order for it to sell as much as possible. This leads the Bold 2 – 9700 to release Mid November to almost the first days of December. Although, lucky people from the UK, here is some good news for you: T-Mobile UK is planning on releasing on October too.

Dakota (formerly known as the Magnum)  info:

Name: Dakota
Size: Bold size
full QWERTY keyboard
GSM 3G speeds
Has a trackpad <— yes, you read correctly
Has a touchscreen (this is where the angels start singing)
Its development is AHEAD of the Blackberry Essex. Yep, we are going to see this bad boy really soon.

via TCGR