BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Cell Phone
Overview
What's Good: Screen is far easier to use thanks to the addition of electronic sensors; OS 5.0 improves overall device functions dramatically.
What's Bad: Despite improvements, SurePress is still harder to use than similar industry competitors. Additionally, the browser still needs work.
Introduction
Almost one full year later, RIM and Verizon Wireless are at it again with the BlackBerry Storm2, their second attempt at a full touchscreen BlackBerry device. Despite the relatively strong sales numbers, reports of build quality problems, typing issues, and the like surfaced on the internet within moments of the device launching. Months and numerous software revisions later, the world (and more specifically, the BlackBerry community) is well aware of the original Storm frustrations. The Storm2 is on the scene, and with it comes several notable improvements such as Wi-Fi, a revamped SurePress display, and OS 5.0. Will the phone outshine its predecessor to become a legitimate contender in the multimedia category?
Design & Features
The left side of the device houses a microUSB charging port and a shortcut key, while the right side sports a 3.5mm headphone jack, volume rocker, and a second shortcut key card slot. The front of the device sports the touchscreen and a dedicated row containing send, 'BlackBerry,' back, and end keys. On the top of the phone, a power/lock button and mute key can be found. The 3.2-megapixel camera is located on the back, and the microSD card slot is located under the battery cover, just below the battery. Both shortcut keys on the left and right sides of the phone are completely customizable, and have migrated away from the chrome accents in favor of a rubberized texture. Gone are the two spring-loaded clasps on the battery door of the Storm; the Storm 2 has graduated to a "hook" method (much like the Curve 8520). To close the battery cover, simply line up the hooks, and apply a bit of force.
The BlackBerry Storm2 ships with the device, battery, travel charger, USB cable, earphones, Verizon SIM card (for international use), and a 16 GB microSD card (installed in the device). Coming in at 2.4-inches wide by 4.4-inches long by 0.5-inch thick, the Storm2 weighs 5.6 ounces, making it a bit heavier than the average smartphone. The 3.3-inch capacitive LCD display houses 65,000 colors and 360 x 480 pixels. Much like the original Storm, the display on the Storm2 is a pleasure to use due to the large size. Colors are rich and vibrant.
Usability & Performance
OS 5.0 in action - note the new SMS/MMS icon and installed applications.
As the first retail unit to offer OS 5.0 out of the box, die-hard BlackBerry users will immediately notice changes in OS 5.0.0.320. Featuring threaded text messaging, improvements in the accelerometer, a faster boot sequence (a common frustration among BlackBerry users), an updated web browser with several improvements, and a refreshed "applications installed" menu, it's nice to see the OS on retail shelves. The threaded text messaging was something we saw coming, but it's nice to have it supported out of the box. As with any BlackBerry, the menus are customizable. Out of the box, the Storm2 offers VZ Navigator, V CAST Music with Rhapsody, Visual Voicemail, My Verizon, VCast Song ID, VCast Videos, Bing, City ID, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, and Slacker Radio. Documents to Go (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is also pre-installed on the Storm2, along with Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger, and BlackBerry Messenger. Popular apps such as UberTwitter, buzzd, and Poynt can be downloaded from the BlackBerry App World. The Storm2 is also the first CDMA BlackBerry to offer Wi-Fi. Yes, the device is an EVDO Rev. A unit, but there's always a time where Wi-Fi could be used (not to mention, it's faster).
The primary improvement on the BlackBerry Storm2 lies below the surface. To elaborate, the original Storm's SurePress technology consisted of a single "button" underneath the middle of the screen. That "button" controlled the entire display, so it made it challenging at times, particularly when the user was trying to press in one of the four corners of the display. After weeks of being on the market, reports surfaced of some corners being harder to press than others. Thankfully, the Storm2 has abandoned the physical button in favor of a new SurePress technology. In the Storm2, the display is mounted on four electronic actuators that generate an impulse when the screen is pressed. The new technology also allows for multi-touch (shift + C, for example), leading to faster typing. Because the screen is powered electronically (as opposed to the original Storm), the click that you feel is simulated - the screen isn't actually moving. As a result of the new technology, the screen is far more consistent than that of the original, and typing has become much easier. I can safely say that writing e-mails on the Storm2 is pleasurable - granted, it doesn't take the place of a physical QWERTY, but it is a significant improvement.
The 3.2-megapixel camera worked well.
The Storm2 offers a 3.2-megapixel camera, and in my testing, pictures taken came out well. The only frustration I encountered was a slight shutter lag, making it frustrating to take pictures of moving objects. The Storm2 can also record video, though they came out a bit grainy during testing. The Storm2 offers a 2x digital zoom along with the ability to customize the flash settings, autofocus, white balance, picture size (large, medium, or small), picture quality (superfine, fine, normal), color effect, geotagging, and the location to store the pictures. The video camcorder was decent; much like the devices on the market, it was fine for basic videos.
I tested the Storm2 in New York City and Charlotte, and call quality was very good. Callers had no problem hearing me, and call quality was clear on my end as well. When I went to a known Verizon fringe area, I found calls to sound mostly clear, despite the Storm2 fluctuating between 3G and 1xRTT coverage. I successfully paired the Plantronics Voyager Pro Bluetooth headset to the device without issue. Like all BlackBerry devices in recent memory, the Storm2's speakerphone was very loud, slightly edging out the Bold 9700 in regards to volume. When testing the device in a busy retail store, I was able to hear my callers well.
The Storm2 uses the D-X1 battery, and comes with a SIM card and 16 GB microSD card pre-installed.
Like the original device, the Storm2 is a world phone, so it ships with a SIM card for international use. In addition to the CDMA 850/1900 MHz bands, the Storm2 supports GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz frequencies and the WCDMA 2100 MHz band. According to Verizon, the device supports voice coverage in 220 countries and 3G data coverage in 175 countries. Individual rates vary depending on the country, and can be found on Verizon's website. The BlackBerry Storm2 is an EVDO Rev. A device, and as such, I was pleased with data speeds. The full PhoneDog homepage loaded in 32 seconds, and other data-intensive tasks loaded well throughout the testing. Unfortunately, though the browser on the Storm2 is one of the best in the BlackBerry lineup, it still pales in comparison to other devices in the smartphone arena.
Estimated talk time is 5.5 hours, and in my testing, battery life was reasonable. With moderate use encompassing text messaging, calling, e-mail, and web browsing, I was able to make it just over a day before the low battery warning flashed. With little to no use, the device lasted just under three days. As a media device, one full day of battery life with moderate usage is acceptable, in my opinion. Like any wireless device, battery numbers will vary with the level of usage that they're subjected to between charging cycles, but the Storm2 should please most users. For those frequently away from the office, there are other BlackBerry devices that are better in the battery department.
Conclusion
The Storm2 excites me because it's genuinely a great product, it's proof that RIM can bridge the divide between "professional" and "multimedia," and perhaps most importantly, it's the company's first legitimate stab at the touchscreen market. Everything I love about the BlackBerry product, it has, along with everything I love about touchscreen devices (particularly, the iPhone - I hate to compare it, but it's true). My favorite improvement isn't a physical device improvement, but rather that with the launch of the Storm2, non-BlackBerry users will finally view the device as a legitimate alternative to other touchscreen devices on the market. More Storm2 owners translates into a higher market share for the BlackBerry brand. While the original Storm missed the boat (no pun intended), I can safely say that the Storm2 is a legitimate contender in RIM's corner.
Read full review » Aaron takes a gander at the BlackBerry Storm2's physical hardware and tests out the voice capabilities in part two of the BlackBerry Storm2 multi-part video series. Aaron tests out the messaging capabilities of Verizon's BlackBerry Storm2. Is it up to snuff? We'll find out! For continuing coverage of all things BlackBerry, be sure to check out BBerryDog.com! I'll admit, the dual launch of the BlackBerry Storm2 and Motorola Droid (even if it was just the announcement) was a bit frustrating, as it seemed to overshadow the announcement of RIM's newest BlackBerry. They're not leaving it in the dark, though - billed as "the perfect Storm," Verizon's first television spot highlighting the Storm2's capabilities (and their 3G dominance to AT&T) debuted late yesterday.
Is the advertising... It's better than the first Storm, that's all I can say for now The day is getting closer and closer, as Research In Motion has officially placed the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 2 on its website. Complete with video, we get the first true (and official) look at the replacement to the original Storm.As I've said before, the BlackBerry Storm 2 has a branding scar that it has to get rid of. Shortly after the launch of the original device, users complained about everything from battery life to software...
When I was working with the BlackBerry Storm2, I noticed that the lower left hand corner was noticeably harder to push than anywhere else on the unit. At the time, I thought it was my device, but it appears that the problem was a bit more widespread than I thought. According to a leak obtained by BerryScoop, Verizon retail stores have been directed to return their existing stock of Storm2 devices for replacements that use improved... Congratulations to R. Johnson of NY who won a BlackBerry Storm2 for Verizon Wireless on Monday March 1st, 2010 at 9:12PM. "I can't believe I won, this is so sick. Thanks Phonedog. Looks like I'll have to register on BBerrydog."
This is the phone that the first Storm should have been. SurePress is better, the device has WiFi, and the OS is less buggy. That said, unless you're absolutely wedded to the idea of a full-touch BlackBerry, I have no idea why you'd want this phone.
Honestly, it just feels like it's trying to be something it's not - BlackBerry OS is passable in a hardcore business device thanks to solid messaging performance that really sings in concert... Overview
What's Good: Screen is far easier to use thanks to the addition of electronic sensors; OS 5.0 improves overall device functions dramatically. What's Bad: Despite improvements, SurePress is still harder to use than similar industry competitors. Additionally, the browser still needs work.
Introduction
Almost one full year later, RIM and Verizon Wireless are at it again with the BlackBerry Storm2, their second attempt at a full...
Almost one full year later, RIM and Verizon Wireless are at it again with the BlackBerry Storm2, their second attempt at a full touchscreen BlackBerry device. Despite the relatively strong sales numbers, reports of build quality problems, typing issues, and the like surfaced on the internet within moments of the device launching. Months and numerous software revisions later, the world (and more specifically, the BlackBerry... Carrier: Verizon Wireless Retail Price: $279.99 or via ebayContract Price: $179.99 or via Lets TalkHot Features: SurePress™ touch screen technology, Pre-installed 16GB microSD card No user reviews available yet...No reviews have been submitted for the BlackBerry Storm2 9550. Be the first to share your opinion and experience with this product or service and influence others and their buying decisions. Ok, ive took my choices down to 3.My att contract ends December 19, and ive had blackberrys, a gsm android phone on at&t, and more recently, the Iphone 3gs 16g. I hate at&t service, and am switching to verizon. Which one is the best? I like different things about the phones, and really wish i could combine all 3, but i cant. I wanted to know which is the best. I like facebook, google, and i also use email alot! I want something... The Blackberry storm and the Blackberry strom 2 are pretty much the same, but I would go with the Blackberry storm2 because it is newer and as far as i heard it works better and faster.
Umm, the storm 2 does click, it isnt a suspension system like the old one, it just sends an electronic pulse to your fingers that tells you you made a selection. The storm 2s browser has been knocked for being slower than the original, over any connectivity, and the phones have the same processor, the storm 2s is just a little newer, and the reception cant be any diiferent, because of the network being the same, and they both are capacitive... Absolutely...anything to quite my coworker who swears that the Storm 2 is the second coming. I have tested both of these phones out before and, one thing about the first storm is that the screen clicked. I didnt like that at all. When i first tested it out i thought its was goning to be a compasitive touch screen, but it wont. ): Thats what i like about the storm 2 it doesnt click and i found it to be faster on the web, because of wify. But i went on the internet when the storm 2 wify was not on, with the storm and they were... I would like to see this dogfight too!! I am on Verizon and I have used only BB smartphones in the past (primarily for business). Before all this Droid buzz, I was seriously enamored w/ the TP2 (again for business use) and thought the WinMo 6.X platform woudl serve my purposes very well (doc editing, email, web browsing, text, IM etc)...but now I just don't know. With 16GB on board and a snappy processor...the Droid looks very... i currently have the storm and am sick of the issues i have with it!
i was looking into getting the storm 2 for sure but after further reading i see the droid is the best out for verizon. its again not an iphone but looks like it will do nicely I agree. I will be picking mine up next Friday (11/6).
Had the Pre, have the Hero. Will be returning the Hero this weekend and going back to Verizon.
I will be looking at the Storm 2 also.
The Droid would win hands down, it's got a faster proscessor, higher res screen, more features, overall it's better. Would like to see a dog fight between the Blackberry Storm 2, HTC Toch Pro 2 and Droid. Currently on Verizon Network and have narrowed choice down to these three. Buying choicesWith new service  With pre-paid service This item is not being sold with a pre-paid service service plan by any online merchant. Purchase phone only Accessories Purchase compatible accessories for this phone Ringtones & MediaShop for compatible mobile content for this phone
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and all of the phones that are coming out with it
the droid is going to be one of the big game changers, along with the dragon.
one phone, cant "kill" the iphone, it already has an established place as one of the "best phones out", 75% of the market, are people just wanting to get a "good" phone, and they know from preconceptions that the iphone, is a "good phone"
android is flooding the market with amazing quality phones, with software that goes way beyond the iphone.
why use 1 phone and cross your fingers, rather then just flood the market with an army of high quality phones