Research in Motion


Posted by flung in BlackBerry and Mobile Phones and Research in Motion and Smart Phones and Verizon Wireless26 Oct 2009 12:40 pm

BB_Storm2_Front_Portrait_LRG-H4-Web

Get ready for the second coming of the Storm and this time, it might actually be a real storm rather than a tropical disturbance. Verizon Wireless and Research in Motion have announced the next-generation BlackBerry Storm2 will be available starting on October 28th. The Storm2 with BlackBerry OS 5.0 adds hundreds of hardware and software enhancements including a new “SurePress” clickable display and built-in Wi-Fi.

Key features of the BlackBerry Storm2 (model 9550) include:

  • 3.25 inch 480 x 360 resolution display at 184 dpi
  • Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape), and new SurePress technology
  • 3G and global connectivity support
  • Network Connectivity: EV-DO Revision A; UMTS/HSPA (2100 MHz); and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks
  • 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi connectivity
  • 256MB of flash memory
  • 2GB of on-board memory
  • microSD/SDHC memory card slot with 16GB card included
  • 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, Image Stabilization (IS), flash and video recording capabilities
  • Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression technology, loud distortion-free speakerphone and face detection (proximity sensor) that prevents accidental clicks and blanks the screen while the customer is on the phone
  • Media player for videos, pictures and music, plus support for BlackBerry Desktop Manager for both PCs and Macs, and BlackBerry® Media Sync, for easily syncing Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone
  • 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and dedicated volume controls
  • Bluetooth 2.1
  • Built-in GPS
  • Support for VZ Navigator, V CAST Music with Rhapsody
  • Support for Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Connect tethering service
  • Comes with BlackBerry OS 5.0 which includes typing accuracy and selection improvements, as well as usability and visual enhancements such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons, and more use of animation
  • BlackBerry Browser with faster JavaScript and CSS processing  and support for Gears and BlackBerry widgets
  • Customers running BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0 will gain the ability to set follow-up flags, manage e-mail folders, access remote files (Windows Shares), forward appointments, view calendar attachments, and more
  • Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides up to 5.5 hours of talk time or up to 11.2 days of standby time

The Storm2 will be available for $179.99 after a $100 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan.

And in case you missed it, PC Magazine posted a review of the Storm2 here on their website stating:

The second time’s the charm for RIM’s innovative click-screen smartphone; the Storm2 cures almost all of the original’s ills.

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Posted by flung in BlackBerry and Mobile Phones and Research in Motion and Smart Phones16 Jun 2009 10:22 am

BlackBerry Tour

CDMA customers out there – you’ve got yourself another BlackBerry device to consider. Research in Motion announced today the new BlackBerry Tour (model 9630) – a new 3G smartphone for CDMA customers in North America. The Tour supports high-speed 3G EV-DO Rev A networks in North America as well as 3G UMTS/HSPA (2100MHz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad. Here’s the complete list of features and specs for the BlackBerry Tour:

  • Chic black finish with chrome highlights
  • Measures 112 x 62 x 14.2 mm and weighs 130 grams
  • Large, highly tactile, full-QWERTY keyboard with chrome frets and finely sculpted keys
  • 2.44 inch 480 x 360 resolution display with 245 ppi – highest resolution available on a BlackBerry smartphone
  • 3.2 MP camera with flash, variable zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording
  • Full HTML web browser, including support for streaming audio and video (RTSP)
  • Advanced media player for videos, pictures and music
  • 3.5 mm stereo headset jack
  • Bluetooth Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP)
  • 256MB Flash memory
  • microSD/SDHC memory card slot
  • Built-in GPS with support for geotagging, BlackBerry Maps and other location based applications and services
  • BlackBerry Media Sync allows customers to quickly and easily synch music from iTunes and Windows Media Player with the smartphone
  • Voice activated dialing, enhanced background noise cancellation, a low-distortion speakerphone, and Bluetooth (2.0) support for hands-free use with headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth peripherals
  • Preloaded DataViz® Documents to Go
  • Easy mobile access to Facebook, MySpace and Flickr®, as well as popular instant messaging services including BlackBerry Messenger, Yahoo! IM, AIM®, Google Talk and Windows Live Messenger 
  • Support for BlackBerry App World
  • BlackBerry Internet Service allows access to up to 10 supported personal and corporate email accounts
  • BlackBerry Enterprise Server 
  • Removable and rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery for 5 hours of talk time and 14 days of standby time

The BlackBerry Tour will be available this summer from CDMA carriers in North America (Verizon, Sprint, etc). No word on exact dates but my inside source at Verizon Wireless claims the Tour will be available for $199 (presumably with 2 yr contract).

[Check it out]

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