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.”

Technorati Tags: Verizon Wireless, BlackBerry Storm2, Research In Motion

A number of pictures of the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 2 (model 9520, otherwise known as “Odin”) smartphone for Vodafone have been leaked onto the net courtesy of benezblog.de. Not much info about the handset other than it has Wi-Fi connectivity this time and it’s running OS version 5.0.0.138.

[Check it out via Unwired View]

Technorati Tags: BlackBerry Storm 2 leaked pics vodafone

The folks at CellPhoneSignal.com have picked up screenshots of marketing material for the upcoming BlackBerry 8520 (Gemini) handset which appears slated for T-Mobile starting on August 5th. This entry level BlackBerry has the following features and specs:

• Full QWERTY keyboard
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g connectivity
• Optical trackpad navigation
• SMS, IM, and Social Networking support
• 2 megapixel camera with video capture
• microSD card slot
• Stereo Bluetooth
• 3.5 mm headset jack
• 256 MB flash memory
• 2.46 inch 320 x 240 resolution TFT LCD
• Video support includes DivX , DivX 5/6, XviD, MPEG4 Part 2 Simple
  Profile, H.263, H.264, WMV3
• Audio support includes 3gp, MP3, MIDI, AMR-NB, Professional
  AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA9 (.wma/.asf), WMA9 PRO / WMA10
• 4 hour talk time and 17 day standby time

[Check it out via The Boy Genius Report]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, BlackBerry Curve 8520

Hey Sprint customers – don’t feel left out in the dark with the new BlackBerry Tour. Sprint is now stating on their website that the Tour will also be available to Sprint customers starting on July 12th. No word on pricing but I would imagine pricing to be on par with Verizon Wireless pricing. UPDATE: Yup.. the pricing will be the same as Verizon Wireless – basically $200 dollars with new 2 year agreement.

Register your name to be notified when the Tour is available (which of course you now know the date).

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sprint, BlackBerry Tour

Those of you interested in the new BlackBerry Tour (model 9630)mobile handset should check out PC Magazine’s latest review of the phone. Giving it their “Editor’s Choice” award, PC Magazine had this to say about the Tour:

“The BlackBerry Tour is the best choice for a smartphone on Verizon Wireless—even though the unit we got was a little buggy.”

If I only was back with Verizon..

[Check it out]

UPDATE: Here’s another review of the BlackBerry Tour – this time by the folks at LaptopMag. They took give the Tour their “Editor’s Choice” award saying:

“The BlackBerry Tour is easily the best smart phone on Verizon Wireless, and we actually prefer it’s compact design to the beefier BlackBerry Bold. We would have liked integrated Wi-Fi, and perhaps access to V Cast TV, but overall the Tour is a winner. You get a very good keyboard, a zippy processor, excellent call quality, and strong data performance, not to mention RIM’s trademark push e-mail goodness. BlackBerry fans looking to upgrade will be happy with this device.”

Technorati Tags: Verizon Wireless, BlackBerry Tour PC Magazine Review

It’s official. The new BlackBerry Tour will go on sale to Verizon Wireless customers starting on July 12th. The Tour will be available for $199.99 along with a new 2 year contract.

Here’s a quick refresher to the Tour:

• Measures 112 x 62 x 14.2 mm and weighs 130 grams
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• 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
• 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
• Removable and rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery for 5 hours of talk time and 14 days of standby time

Again – the Tour will be available for purchase online and in-stores starting on July 12th. You can pre-order the Tour now by going to http://estore.vzwshop.com/bbtour/.

[Check it out via Boy Genius Report]

Technorati Tags: BlackBerry Tour, Verizon Wireless

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]

Technorati Tags: Research in Motion, BlackBerry Tour

If money isn’t a problem and you’re really looking for a smartphone with some extra bling, then you’ll want to check out two of the latest creations from luxury designer and jeweler, Knalihs Athem – the BlackBerry Bold Limited Diamond Edition and the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte Limited Diamond Edition.

For the BlackBerry Bold, you’ll be able to choose from various designs using natural diamonds including pink, yellow, black, champagne, and white diamonds. The back of the Bold is available in beige, black, red, brown and maroon crocodile skin, red and tan leather, black-bronze and black-red snake skin and blue and pink denim finish.

As for the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte, the phone is available in designs using 100 to 1650 natural diamonds (yes that’s a lot of diamonds folks) including pink, yellow, black, champagne, and white diamonds, This handset can also be personalized with initials, numbers, logos, .. and really about anything you want.

No word on pricing but if you’re concerned about that, then these phones are probably NOT for you.

[Check it out via Born Rich]

Technorati Tags: Knalihs Athem, BlackBerry Bold Limited Diamond Edition, Nokia 8800 Carbone Arte Limited Diamond Edition

Here’s another tidbit related to AT&T Wireless. According to the Boy Genius Report, the upcoming (and delayed) BlackBerry 8900 smartphone will be priced at a reasonable $199 dollars after a new two year agreement and a $100 dollar mail-in rebate. Not too shabby..

[Check it out]

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One other Speck related announcement. The company announced a new leather-grade holster case for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 called aptly – the HolsterPro. Features include:

• Lightweight design
• No “unnecessary stitches or features”
• Insert the Curve facing “in” or “out”
• Metal belt clip
• Inner-cushioning for added protection.

The HolsterPro is available now for $24.95.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Speck, HolsterPro Case, BlackBerry Curve 8900