RIM BlackBerry Storm2 Launch-Week Round-Up

RIM's newest BlackBerry smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2, launched this week in the United States on Verizon Wireless. CIO.com's Al Sacco rounds up the key news, analysis, unboxing and device images, and pre-release rumors that proved to be (mostly) true.

By
Fri, October 30, 2009

CIO — After months of device-leaks, "pre-reviews" and all-around speculation, BlackBerry-maker RIM last week decided to finally take the wraps off its worst-kept secret of the year, the BlackBerry Storm2 9520/9550. Shortly thereafter, U.S. carrier Verizon Wireless announced that it would start selling the new device this week.

Aimage of RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 from Verizon Wireless
RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 from Verizon Wireless

The Storm2 fills in some of the gaps that plagued owners of RIM's original BlackBerry Storm 9500/9530. Most notably the Storm2 has new and improved SurePress" touch-screen technology with "multi-touch," which "clicks" to provide tactile feedback and make for easier typing. Also, the new smartphone has Wi-Fi--a first for a Verizon BlackBerry.

CIO.com's Al Sacco was lucky enough to get his thumbs on a Storm2 before its official release. Catch up on his coverage, along with posts chronicling past Storm2-leaks, below.

BlackBerry Storm2 News, Analysis, Unboxing Images and More

BlackBerry Storm2 9500, Bold 9700 Get Official
October 15, 2009

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) has finally acknowledged the latest addition to its smartphone lineup, the touch-screen BlackBerry Storm2 9500. Wireless carrier T-Mobile Germany also listed the as-of-yet unannounced BlackBerry Bold 9700 online, officially confirming its existence.

RIM BlackBerry Storm 2: A Lot to Like
October 15, 2009

When the BlackBerry Storm debuted last fall, RIM's first touch-screen device received not-so-stellar reviews. RIM took reviewers' and customers' gripes into consideration, however, when designing the BlackBerry Storm 2 ($200 with a two-year contract from Verizon; price as of 10/14/09). The result? This is the Storm that I wish RIM had released last year--the device's build, the on-screen keyboard, and the software are miles beyond the first generation. Even so, pressing to type still takes some getting used to.

Verizon Announces BlackBerry Storm2 9550; $179.99 on October 28
October 26, 2009

Verizon Wireless has officially announced the successor to RIM's popular BlackBerry Storm smartphone, the Storm2 9550. The touch-screen based device has received a number of hardware and software enhancements.

Verizon BlackBerry Storm2 to Ship with Microsoft Bing App
October 27, 2009

Verizon Wireless will ship a new Microsoft Bing application with RIM's BlackBerry Storm2 9550.


image of Microsoft Bing Logo on RIM BlackBerry Storm2
Microsoft Bing Logo on RIM BlackBerry Storm2

RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 (Verizon) Unboxing
October 26, 2009

Verizon Wireless's new BlackBerry Storm2 9550 smartphone won't be available in the United States until later this week, but CIO.com's Al Sacco already got his thumbs on the device--and its packaging. Here's a look at what new BlackBerry Storm2 owners on Verizon can expect to find after opening up their new "toys."

BlackBerry Storm2: New Features, Enhancements List from RIM
October 27, 2009

RIM's recently-announced BlackBerry Storm2 packs a number of new features and enhancements not found in the original touch-screen BlackBerry Storm. Here's a quick list from the BlackBerry-maker that details many of the changes.

RIM BlackBerry Storm2 Pre-Release Rumors and Speculation

BlackBerry Storm Redux: Wi-Fi,"TruePress" Screen Coming to VZW Storm in Sept?
April 7, 2009

You know that funky touch-screen BlackBerry that all the kids are gab-gabbin' on and on about? Yeah, the BlackBerry 9530. Well, it looks as though Research In Motion (RIM) and Verizon Wireless, the exclusive Storm provider in the United States, may launch a new and improved version of the popular device to address two long-standing user-complaints: the Storm's lack of Wi-Fi and its less-than-perfect SurePress display and virtual keyboard.


image of BlackBerry Storm2 9550 About Screen
BlackBerry Storm2 9550 About Screen

BlackBerry "Storm 2" Caught on Camera; RIM Leak-Fest Continues
May 15, 2009

Not one week after the first images of Research In Motion's (RIM) unannounced Onyx 96xx, a.k.a. Driftwood, smartphone hit the Web, a handful of pics of RIM's much anticipated BlackBerry Storm successor, currently dubbed "Storm 2," have surfaced...and RIM's pre-release-handheld leak-fest rolls on.

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