Blackberry Storm

[fizz]

The Bold was just launched a few months go but RIM have a new phone already out. Its been official now for a few weeks and many details have emerged about it, but the Blackberry Storm will be the first touchscreen phone from RIM. The downside...no Wifi! It seems even business phones aren't really as hot as media rich phones and even though the standard blackberry features are there, the improvements are in the form of high capacity (1GB Storage, faster processor) or Iphone like functionality (the touchscreen for e.g.), but really, what is a business phone without Wifi? I think RIM is confused about what products to make, in the interest of sustaining sales.

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After tons of info leaked already, the Blackberry Storm finally got the official treatment. It will be sold exclusively by Vodafone in Europe and Verizon Wireless in the US. Telus in Canada will also be pushing the device to local customers.

The Blackberry Storm is the first touchscreen device by BlackBerry. It's got a spanking new user interface, which as it seems is fluid enough to compete the Apple iPhone with an ease.

We already showed you the first official images of the device and its user interface and we even topped that with a Vodafone commercial video yesterday.

Now that the Blackberry Storm is finally announced and the specs are all clear, it turns out that it doesn't pack Wi-Fi functionality as rumored.

The Blackberry Storm 9500 will be sold through Vodafone networks and will be free on monthly plans of 35 GBP and up with an 18-month contract.

The Blackberry Storm 9530 is the variant of the handset that will be sold in North America. Along with the quad-band GSM and 2100Mhz UMTS support that the 9500 model has, it will also offer CDMA2000 1xEV-DO support.
 
The Blackberry Storm is not yet available for purchase, but it should be soon.

[X.]

I can't remember the last time I used WiFi on my i-Mate. With 3G becoming more and more affordable, WiFi just doesn't seem to have much validity. May be that's why.

This Blackberry Storm is very sexy. Sexy enough to have sex with.

[fizz]

I guess it depends on where you are. Here 3G is still comparatively more expensive to use. Wifi is an excellent alternative, so much so that I don't use my 3G at all - only Wifi. Why pay for something when you can get it free?

It is also great from a corporate point of view - you can set a Wifi network in the office and only share the security keys with people from your own office for out of LAN coverage areas.

[ozzylogic]

Yay, an iPhone killer. I've used the Bold and it's nice, but doesn't quite justify the AED 2999 price tag. I have a 8700G and it's rugged, and who needs WiFi when you have a GPRS global unlimited roaming connectivity package?

[X.]

...who needs WiFi when you have a GPRS global unlimited roaming connectivity package?

Explain that to your brother! The WiFi nerd has lost his damn mind!

[fizz]

I don't use Wifi here in the context of connecting to the internet. Wifi does not compete with GPRS, they are complimentary to each other. Wifi can enable me to connect to a local network without wires. I may find that important, if not essential, as a business mobile user. GPRS will not allow me to connect to my corporate network unless I am using VPN on the device.

On the subject of internet connectivity alone, for me Wifi is better also because (in addition to being free) allowing me faster speeds. Wifi typically works at 10MBPS while GPRS/3G works at about 1MBPS (not sure about those specifics).

[kaytee]

I'm with Fizzy on this. I prefer WiFi it is just faster compared to 3G.

The Storm does look nifty but will have to see how they interface is of the touchscreen before saying anything else about it.

[ozzylogic]

It means Wifi applies to people who want to surf the net and connect to their corporate network. In my case, I don't need to. But if I did feel the need, I'd use my E65, but it's very limited in this.

GPRS and 3G and EDGE are data packages, while Wifi is a connectivity medium, so I guess there's no competition. My roaming global unlimited 'net connection on my BB is company paid, so no worries there.

We're planning on going for BES soon though. Still doing my homework.

Another reason why I prefer a GPRS/EDGE connection over a WiFi connection is due to the amount of coverage. I've seen people surfing the 'net in Festival City using Wifi...but try doing that while waiting for your car to be serviced, or at the barbers...or waiting for a cab, etc.

[kaytee]

Does your BB give you full HTML pages with images and the works?

[shariqq]

I'm with fizz & kaytee on this. I use wifi too, haven't used GPRS yet, but wifi on the phone is awesome.

[ozzylogic]

Does your BB give you full HTML pages with images and the works?

That depends on the phone's browser right? I use IMDB, Gmail, Souq and Facebook all the time...but rotten tomatoes looks like crap.

[kaytee]

...but rotten tomatoes looks like crap.

Exactly...even the WM webpage only shows the wap page, cant see images, etc.

[X.]

...but rotten tomatoes looks like crap.

Exactly...even the WM webpage only shows the wap page, cant see images, etc.

Please, I want you to work!

[sammy]

well..alot depends on the phone software / browser

on my e90, i use wifi only to sync the contacts and download apps
on my iPhone, i use anything to check mails / reply / sync / surf / facebook!

Adnan's point of cost of service is valid in my case! unless its urgent, why use 3g/gprs and pay extra.
I can just use wifi and connect and do the same. If it can wait that is. If i dont have free wifi available, gprs / 3g is the way to go. 3g is becoming more popular and hopefully we will see it drop rates to more userfriendly numbers (maybe the "Recession" will help!)

I'm going to test voip calls from my e90. I dont think the gprs speeds will help with this though, so 3g and wifi would be the way to go!