Note: You can still access the download even if you don’t have a Verizon number by entering a random number and then clicking on the “Download Now” button.

• Download: OS 5.0.0.320 for the Storm2 9550 from Verizon
• 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. *

Verizon didn’t promote the BlackBerry Storm2 like they did the Storm, but considering the various issues the Storm had this is understandable. The VerizonWireless YouTube account posted this rocking Storm2 commercial , very brief but straight to the point and it includes a video clip of the rock band Switchfoot. Good band .

In case you missed it, earlier this week Verizon and RIM announced the Storm2 9550 and it went live on the Verizon website this morning.

Don’t forget to play with the interactive user guide or check out the features and specifications if you want to learn more about the Storm2 before buying it.

A few days ago Verizon and RIM announced the BlackBerry Storm2 9550 will be launching today, October 28th. Verizon was right on time with this launch and now has the Storm2 on their website!

To the right of the Storm2 Details box is the Buy One Get One (BOGO) free deal and as you can see in the screenshot below, the Storm2 is part of it like I showed you it would be .

Recap on the pricing and availability from their press release:

The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone is available beginning Oct. 28 for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan.  Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.  Data plans for the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.

For more info and to order your Storm2 9550 from Verizon head over to the Storm2 9550 page or check out the official press release and related links here. My buddy @Ackee_ also let me know that Verizon stores got their Storm2 shipments yesterday and should be ready to go when the stores open later today if you’d like to pick one up in person.

If you pick one up let me know how you like it in the comments, especially if you’re a previous Storm 1 owner!

Thanks @themes4bb!

UPDATE This contest has been extended till tomorrow night, November 1st at 11:59PM. *

The folks over at Carrier Unlock were nice enough to give me 5 BlackBerry unlock codes to give away as part of the BBRocks! birthday celebration.

Carrier Unlock offers BlackBerry unlocking services for the US and Canada with carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Rogers, Fido and a bunch of others. Unlocking your BlackBerry allows you to use it on any compatible network. If you decide you can’t wait to see if you won a free unlock code you can get one for $6.99 by contacting Carrier Unlock at brsdiddy@gmail.com.

CONTEST: For a chance to win 1 of 5 BlackBerry unlock codes leave a comment on this post using a valid email address. Only leave one comment, duplicates will be ignored and will not increase your chances of winning. This contest will end at 12AM EST on Sunday, November 1st. Comments left after this time will not be considered. *

Yesterday I mentioned talking to a Verizon Assistant Manager who told me that the BlackBerry Storm2 would be launching on October 28th. Today Verizon and RIM have confirmed that launch date with an official announcement!

We pretty much already know everything about the Storm2 from the leaked info pamphlet, the  interactive user guide and the full list of features and specifications. Here is the official pricing and availability info:

The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone is available beginning Oct. 28 for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan.  Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.  Data plans for the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.

Also mentioned in this press release is the release of OS 5.0 for the Storm 9530, which was released late last night. For more info check out the full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Not even thirty minutes after I posted the leaked version @MoeStepp let me know that Verizon has made the official version available for download! Better late than never right?

OS 5.0.0.328 for the BlackBerry Storm 9530 is available for download through Desktop Manager or through Verizon’s BlackBerry software download site vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry. I tested it and you can enter any number to get the download, it doesn’t have to be a Verizon number. Feel free to use the one I entered in the screenshot above.

I’ve included the full changelog after the jump. Let me know how you like this update in the comments!

CONTINUE READING »

UPDATE 10:30PM EST Verizon has finally released this OS. Click here for more info. *

UPDATE 6:47PM EST Just called Verizon and they said the update is “available as of today”. It’s probably a slow rollout. If you get it let me know when and where you are. *

UPDATE 6:30PM EST Anyone having any luck? Don’t forget to try through Desktop Manager or through Options > Advanced > Wireless Update. *

A few days ago I let you know that the Storm 9530 will be getting OS 5.0 from Verizon today. The same Verizon Assistant Manager I spoke to about the Storm 9550 launch also told me that OS 5.0 for the Storm 9530 will be made available at 6PM EST, less than an thirty minutes away!

The Assitant Manager told me that the update will be available through vzw.com/storm, which basically ends up taking you to the BlackBerry update page for the Storm at worldwide.blackberry.com/update/blackberrystorm.jsp. If you have a Storm 9530 and are able to get this update today at 6PM EST (or whenever it becomes available today if not at that time) let me know in the comments!

I was also able to get the changelog for this release which I’ve included after the jump. The list is long and full of lots of fixes and improvements.

CONTINUE READING »

I drove over to my local Best Buy and Verizon stores today to see if I can get any updates about the BlackBerry Storm 9550. Upon arriving at Best Buy the first thing I saw was a Storm 9550 dummy unit on display. I decided to ask the Best Buy reps if they knew when it would launch in their stores and they were clueless, telling me maybe November.

After Best Buy I drove over to the Verizon store to see if they knew anything more about the Storm 9550. I was able to talk to an Assistant Manager who instantly responded with “it should be launching October 28th”.

The October 28th launch date has been spotted a few times so this isn’t new information, but since this Verizon location is just a retail store, I would say that the October 28th launch date is solid. We’ll find out soon enough since the 28th is only three days away…

@Ackee_ is on fire with his tips! He just sent me an image showing that BlackBerry Storm 9530 owners on the Verizon network will officially be getting OS 5.0.0.328 this Sunday, October 25th.

The latest leaked OS for the Storm 9530 is 5.0.0.323, and since this upcoming official release is only a few builds higher I hope this means a release for other devices isn’t far off. Keep in mind that while this is official internally, the actual release date could change before it is released publicly.

Any Storm 9530 owners excited about possibly getting some official OS 5.0 action this weekend?

When it rains, it Storms . The guys over at Engadget were sent the image above showing the Verizon BlackBerry Storm2 9550 with some pricing info and further confirmation for the October 28th launch date.

• 2 Year $279.99 (Price before $100 Mail-in Rebate)
• 1 Year $349.99 (Price before $100 Mail-in Rebate)
• Full Retail $539.99

So how does a brand new Storm2 for $179.99 (after the rebate) on a 2 year contract sound? Any current Storm1 owners planning on getting it?

Don’t forget to check out the Storm 9550 Interactive User Guide ,  the Storm2’s features and specifications and Verizon’s internal PDF about the launch for more info.