Update: It looks like the rumor is correct. The Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 and 3 other BlackBerry devices are being end of lifed…
Word on the street (quite literally, actually) is that investors and analysts believe that there is speculation among traders about a report that indicated orders for the BlackBerry Storm were cut or canceled. The name of the research shop that produced the note wasn’t immediately known and both RIM and Verizon either declined to comment, or, don’t have a comment at this time.
My initial take on this rumor is that it is probably true, and, it really isn’t that big of a deal…
My guess is that this rumor applies only to the BlackBerry Storm, not the BlackBerry Storm2, and, we’re probably still several months away from a time when you can no longer by a BlackBerry Storm from Verizon. We’re also probably not too far away from the time that we start hearing rumors about the BlackBerry Storm3, or, whatever RIM and Verizon decide to call their new touchscreen device.
Excluding the original BlackBerry Curve, RIM doesn’t generally continue to manufacture devices that have been replaced by newer versions of the same line multiple times. I know this upsets a lot of people, however, if RIM could have put all the cool technology currently available today into a device that debuted in the fall of 2008, they would have. The natural order of things is for older models to be phased out to make room for new models with more features and functionality.
So, is Research in Motion discontinuing the BlackBerry Storm? Yeah, eventually… But, like I said, it isn’t that big of a deal.
I have to laugh if that is a rumor coming from “traders” on Wall Street. I sincerely doubt they are the ones that came up with or created this info. Being a former Wall Street’er myself, the info most likely was handed down from an analyst who covers the industry.
As for the Storm model being discontinued, it’s not even worth mentioning. It should have been discontinued before it ever came out. I’m almost tempted to say the same about the Storm2. Over time, the “clicking” has proven to be cumbersome and requires effort. Personally, I don’t believe my finger are supposed to get tired from typing. That’s not the experience a consumer friendly device is supposed exhibit.
I completely agree with you on the Storm before the OS 5 update, but the Storm2. RIM got the keyboard right the second go round. My wife just got a BlackBerry Bold and I’ve been trying to get used to it so that I could switch back to AT&T, but, I just like the touchscreen on my Storm2 too much. I don’t think that I would ever go with a BlackBerry without a full touchscreen again.
I just got a Storm last effing week. Now they are talking about discontinuing it. It goes back today and I am getting a Droid Eris.
I read your blog a lot and agree with much of what you say, if BlackBerry cancels the Storm, it is a big deal. These phones are expensive and everyone can’t afford to buy new ones every time a new model comes out. Let me guess, I bet there is no discount for existing Storm users.
Erin, I hear what you are saying but I look at buying a phone like buying a car or a computer, or anything, really, that depreciates over time.
You can’t really be upset at a car company if you buy a brand new 2010 car today when the 2011 models come out in August.
good riddens
It is not that big of a deal for current Storm owners. I have a Storm and i love it so i plan on keeping it…doesn’t matter to me if Verizon keeps selling them. I realize that they have poor sales so it is probably good to get rid of it for the Storm 2 and future touch screen blackberries. People who just bought one don’t need to go throw it out just because Verizon doesn’t sell it anymore doesn’t mean it is completely obsolete.
It was silly of RIM to even come out with the lackberry storm. The iPhone owns the consumer market and once they start moving into the corporate world it will be all over for RIM. Because RIM spent so much time failing on the Storm, Apples takeover of the business market will come even sooner.
get off here you f*cking fanboy
I own a Blackberry myself. Aside from the memory leak issue I am pretty happy with the product. It being discontinued is not so much a big deal as long as they do not discontinue the support for the storm.
Better technology is always around the corner so if discontinuing the storm to bring on newer and better products then kudos to Verizon.
@Bluehorseshoe Did you really just say that typing wasn’t meant to be done with clicking? How in the world do you get anything done on your desktop or notebook keyboard? 🙂
We have all drunk too much Apple punch. There is nothing natural or effortless about having zero feedback when typing. It REQUIRES you to watch what you are doing. I personally loved the keyboard concept on the Storm. It just had some initial implementation issues.
No, that’s not what I’m saying or meant to imply. What I am saying is that the effort when using the Storm is more tiring than using, let’s say, my Bold2. My fingers shouldn’t have to put that much effort into “punching” down a character.
I agree that the Storm is a pain when it comes to typing. I use the improved Storm 2 and still struggle. The full keyboard in vertical position is useless, I use the multi-tap instead when texting. Using the horizontal full keyboard is almost a necessity for serious typing (from a mobile standpoint that is) and it’s still time consuming and extremely frustrating to type. The Storm was designed for web browsing and email, it’s not a text phone. A physical keyboard is better.
I agree with Rob on this one. Verizon discontinuing the original BlackBerry Curve isn’t really all that big of a deal. I used to work in a Verizon store. Just because they stop actively selling an older model device doesn’t mean they stop supporting customers still using it.
This is no big deal at all…
@bluehorseshoe OK, I hear what you are saying, but it’s really how we all learned to type, with the “press” of the key and the resultant tactile feedback. To me, it just seems more natural than the alternative. Yeah, perhaps in the beginning it might have been hard on the fingers, but who remembers that now? It is actually just about my favorite part of the Storm. I was lucky that I got one that always worked excellent.
The Storm, even Storm2 (although better, and I’ve owned every BB out there), slows down my typing speed. I type quite a few emails on the device, and after shooting out a few, my thumbs tend to get tired from the “click.” The iPhone and the Nexus One on the other hand don’t tired my fingers. At first the iPhone was “weird” to type on, but after a while, I became fluent. My favorite of all keyboards is the Pearl (physical keyboard, nice size keys, and I became extremely fluent with SureType). As of now I have a Bold2 and Storm2, but will switch over to the Pearl and Nexus One (on VZW) when they come out. For me, those are the two ideal keyboards and phones.
PS – when the first Storm came out, I too loved the idea of the click. But typing as many emails as I do, my thumbs were waving a white flag. Carpel tunnel.
Yeah, I do at least dozens a day. Which is why I REALLY like my Droid keyboard. 🙂
I have been a verizon customer since June. I have had the storm and now the storm 2 and they’re both terrible phones. They freeze frequently causing you to have to remove battery and put it back. Typing a text message is a challenge. You couldn’t give me another. The terrible part is I’m in a contract for two years, or I’ll have to pay an early termination fee to get rid of it.
The Blackberry Storm was, is and always will be a total failure and piece of junk. I have had it for nearly 2 years and it is the worst mobile phone I have ever had. I’d rather text on 4 year old numberpad phone than the Storm’s virtual keyboard. Utter junk and how did it ever get to marketin the first place in the state it operates? JUNK.