Give The BlackBerry Storm A Spin Before You Buy
BlackBerry has launched an interactive user guide for the Storm to give potential buyers a somewhat hands-on online experience before they shell out the dough for the BlackBerry Storm.
The virtual demo walks users through the basics, device setup, the advanced features and a host of other functions from charging the battery and making calls to typing and managing media files.
While RIM has yet to announce exact pricing for the 3G BlackBerry Storm, it is expected to run around $500 for an unsubsidized device and for a device through Verizon Wireless with a two-year contract and rebates, the Storm is expected to cost between $200 and $300.
And though Verizon has unveiled some international service plan options for the Storm, the exact release date is also not known. However, Best Buy is offering a pre-order for the BlackBerry Storm, letting potential buyers put down a $50 refundable deposit to ensure they have a Storm in hand on the launch day.
The Storm marks BlackBerry's first foray into touch-screen devices and puts it in direct competition with the now iconic Apple iPhone 3G and other touch-screen titans like the recently released, Google Android-based T-Mobile G1. Being the first touch-screen BlackBerry has made the Storm one of the most coveted smartphones in BlackBerry's 10-year history.
The BlackBerry Storm will be exclusive through Verizon Wireless in the U.S. The Storm ties in all of BlackBerry's e-mail, calendaring, messaging and mobile Web capabilities, along with a host of multimedia capabilities like GPS, video, music and more. It also features a 3.2-megapixel camera with zoom, flash and video-recording capabilities. But the main draw of the Storm is its "clickable" touchscreen that makes an audible clicking sound and depresses slightly as users type on the touch-sensitive display.