Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) today announced an Oct. 28 release date for the BlackBerry Storm2. The Storm2 is the highly anticipated successor to the original Storm, which launched to a host of problems and subsequent customer returns.
RIM is betting on a new touch screen and operating system to improve on the original Storm. The Storm2 comes with a full touch screen, which has been improved with new BlackBerry “Sure Press” technology, as well as the new BlackBerry OS 5.0.
The Storm2 also will feature Wi-Fi, which the original Storm did not.
Additional features include 3G and global connectivity support for making phone calls in more than 220 countries and accessing data in more than 185 countries, a 3.2-megapixel camera, 256 MB of Flash memory, 2 GB of onboard media storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot with a 16 GB card included.
The Storm2 is available beginning Oct. 28 for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an e-mail and Web feature or an e-mail and Web for BlackBerry plan.
Initial reviews of the phone have been positive, with most saying that the original problems associated with the device largely have been solved.
The announcement could be bittersweet for those customers who purchased the original Storm back in November of 2008 and are still under contract. Those customers will either have to pay the unsubsidized price for the device or wait another year before indulging in the Storm2.
