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Report: Blackberry Storm 2 Coming October 25

- By - Source : Tom's Guide US

If recent reports are to be believed, the second iteration of RIM's BlackBerry Storm 2 will hit stores at the end of this month.

A BGR post shows a Best Buy inventory listing that lists an October 25 delivery of BlackBerry Storm 2 dummies. For those of you unfamiliar with how these things work, a release of the device usually comes in or around a week after the retailer receives the dummy units.

There's not a whole lot of new exciting features when it comes to the Storm 2. Even the name is dull and screams, "We didn't quite get it right the first time." Basically, you're looking at the Storm with a better input function than that annoying, haptic touchscreen business and of course, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi.

BGR's sources also note a price for the device. If they're correct, the unit will retail for $599 at Best Buy locations with no service agreement. That's a lot of dough! Then again, how much would you be willing to pay for this phone and stay off contract? Let us know in the comments below!

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bourgeoisdude 10/01/2009 9:17 PM
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If they're correct, the unit will retail for $599 at Best Buy locations with no service agreement. That's a lot of dough!

And I though the PS3 used to be expensive...I can buy two of those for the price of this thing!

kyeana 10/01/2009 9:24 PM
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^Thats just without contract. Im sure you can get it significantly cheaper with a 2 year contract

Anonymous 10/01/2009 9:42 PM
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The actual devices are slated to come in on the 25th as well. http://crackberry.com/storm-2-head [...] tober-25th

rcmaniac25 10/01/2009 10:15 PM
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So looking forward to this. $599 for no contract, not cheap but I don't plan to get it without a contract.

scook9 10/01/2009 11:08 PM
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I am going to get one IF IT IS NOT AS SLOW AS THE STORM 1

My only complaint with my current storm is that it is just SLOW. I am pretty sure it can be fixed with software but RIM does not seem to care enough to do this....the TOUR with the same hardware is MUCH faster

jn77 10/01/2009 11:56 PM
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This is what I do not understand.... Cell phones have been around how long? the telephone part of your cell phone costs maybe $2 in parts, the processor and screen, keyboard, etc might cost $20 in parts, and yet the phone retails with out a contract for $599 ? My netbook for $349 has more parts value than a cell phone and the company is making a profit from the netbook...

I do not like government regulation, but the whole cell phone thing has gotten out of hand, the best cell phone out there might be worth $60 in reality, and and an unlimited contract should be no more than $30 a month.

How many of you have read the info on how text messages are send through un-used white space between the frequency's and it is like 98% profit for the cell companies to charge crazy fees for text messaging.

First the auto industry, then the health care industry, next the credit card industry and then the cell phone industry.

I just needed to see a dentist and even with good insurance they wanted a $350 deposit, what a scam.

rodney_ws 10/02/2009 12:40 PM
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Well, I personally am unable to design, manufacture, market and support a phone at a $599 price point. A new phone is a lot like a new car... you have a limited time to sell it and actually make money because it quickly starts to lose value as other models come out. While I'd never pay $599 for a phone, I'm pretty sure my EnV Touch is a $400+ phone (without a contract) Verizon has hands down the best coverage in this area so a 2 year contract made sense for me... I paid $49 for my EnV Touch. Seemed like a fair trade to me since I wasn't leaving Verizon.

climber 10/02/2009 1:08 AM
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How about calling it the Blackberry "Typhoon" or "Hurricane", of course if it's not a spectacular new product, we certainly wouldn't want to call it the "Tropical Depression".

wookiness 10/02/2009 1:51 AM
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JN77 :
This is what I do not understand.... Cell phones have been around how long? the telephone part of your cell phone costs maybe $2 in parts, the processor and screen, keyboard, etc might cost $20 in parts, and yet the phone retails with out a contract for $599 ? My netbook for $349 has more parts value than a cell phone and the company is making a profit from the netbook...I do not like government regulation, but the whole cell phone thing has gotten out of hand, the best cell phone out there might be worth $60 in reality, and and an unlimited contract should be no more than $30 a month.How many of you have read the info on how text messages are send through un-used white space between the frequency's and it is like 98% profit for the cell companies to charge crazy fees for text messaging.First the auto industry, then the health care industry, next the credit card industry and then the cell phone industry.I just needed to see a dentist and even with good insurance they wanted a $350 deposit, what a scam.



What you think a "part" in a given cell phone should cost versus the actual part cost to make is very different. I guarantee that a screen such as the one in BB Storm or Storm 2 does not cost just 20 dollars to manufacture. I am willing to bet a screen like this cost roughly 150-220 dollars each. I find it funny when people figure that their FREE phone they got was in fact a free phone. When in fact it likely was a 160-200 dollar phone. My point is that there is a lot more than 2 dollars for a radio/antenna, screen and keyboard that goes into a phone. Also, the amount of money that is made on a netbook or any computer is 5% or less.

climber 10/02/2009 2:53 AM
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wookiness :
What you think a "part" in a given cell phone should cost versus the actual part cost to make is very different. I guarantee that a screen such as the one in BB Storm or Storm 2 does not cost just 20 dollars to manufacture. I am willing to bet a screen like this cost roughly 150-220 dollars each. I find it funny when people figure that their FREE phone they got was in fact a free phone. When in fact it likely was a 160-200 dollar phone. My point is that there is a lot more than 2 dollars for a radio/antenna, screen and keyboard that goes into a phone. Also, the amount of money that is made on a netbook or any computer is 5% or less.



True wookiness, the research and development cost is high, now I do not agree that they need to make it back in the first two months of release, but then again perhaps they do given the short life cycle of todays cell/smartphones.

Anonymous 10/02/2009 5:23 AM
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It couldn't be much worse than a Storm 1. For my company I support nearly 2000 Real Estate Agents of which I've come across about 30 Storm users. EVERY SINGLE ONE has had to be replaced by its user at least TWICE.
Don't get me wrong, its a nice device, but hey, you though Vista was rushed to market. You ain't seen nutt'in til you've seen this P.O.S's record!!!!
Please God let the Storm 2 be more reliable. Until then I'm still recommending iPhones - rock solid, if a bit geriatric! (Oh, and crappy network too!)

buwish 10/02/2009 5:37 AM
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$599 without a contract is way too much for a smart phone, much less a phone.

tayb 10/02/2009 7:47 AM
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JN77 :
I just needed to see a dentist and even with good insurance they wanted a $350 deposit, what a scam.



You know what else is a scam? Waiting 3+ months to use an MRI. Of course that is what you wait in Canada on average because government run health care has stifled innovation, the doctor to patient ratio has skyrocketed, and there isn't enough money for equipment. There is a way, however, to get an MRI within a week if you live in Canada. You can either be a dog, be a cat, or fly to the United States and have it done almost immediately.

Which system needs fixing? The one that costs more but you get the treatment you need right away or the one that is "free" but you don't get the treatment you need right away.

Why is it that people all over the world fly to the United States to get medical care? By a showing of hands, how many people here in the United States fly to other countries to get medical care? ... I don't see any hands. For profit = innovation. Innovation saves lives.

lashton 10/02/2009 8:48 AM
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tayb, you are spo wrojg its not even funny, MOSt US people goto other countries, my country is cheaper than your for healthcare, ever hear of healthcare holidays, health care in my country is ALOT cheaper than the US

Anonymous 10/02/2009 9:22 AM
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If you know that china underground factory produces a cheap version of iphone (although not fully functional as iphone) only costs around $20.00 street price, you know that $599 is indeed expensive.

r3t4rd 10/02/2009 10:26 AM
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tayb :
You know what else is a scam? Waiting 3+ months to use an MRI. Of course that is what you wait in Canada on average because government run health care has stifled innovation, the doctor to patient ratio has skyrocketed, and there isn't enough money for equipment. There is a way, however, to get an MRI within a week if you live in Canada. You can either be a dog, be a cat, or fly to the United States and have it done almost immediately. Which system needs fixing? The one that costs more but you get the treatment you need right away or the one that is "free" but you don't get the treatment you need right away. Why is it that people all over the world fly to the United States to get medical care? By a showing of hands, how many people here in the United States fly to other countries to get medical care? ... I don't see any hands. For profit = innovation. Innovation saves lives.


Yet some Canadians swear thier Healthcare system is top notch. *rolls eyes*

I was planning on getting a blacberry for personal use but...ouch! I am in the middle of my 2yrs contract. I'll wait. Personally, I would take the HTC Touch Pro II over this.

saturn77 10/02/2009 10:59 AM
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"You know what else is a scam? Waiting 3+ months to use an MRI. Of course that is what you wait in Canada on average because government run health care has stifled innovation, the doctor to patient ratio has skyrocketed, and there isn't enough money for equipment. There is a way, however, to get an MRI within a week if you live in Canada. You can either be a dog, be a cat, or fly to the United States and have it done almost immediately. "

Dude, just stfu, you have no idea what you are talking about. It took me over 2 months to get an MRI and I live in the US. My doctor said that he wanted me to get an MRI but he had to ASK the freaking Insurance ripoffs first. My doctor also told me that they would deny it the first time, which they did, and he would have to escalate the request. Who would you rather have paying for your health insurance? A company that profits off giving you the least amount of coverage their contract says they can or a government agency that doesn't make a profit that you helped elect? You can keep lining the insurance companies pockets and keep buying them mansions. I'm done with that.

Oh, and btw, 95% of people on Medicaire think it's great.
Over 65% of people that go bankrupt, you know losing all the property you own, do so from medical bills in the US.
The US is ranked 33, next to Cuba, in health care.
45,000+ US citizens die EACH YEAR, from not having health insurance since they have no access to a regular doctor.
If you have no insurance and get cancer, some politicians (rebulicans) suggest you go beg for help at a charity.

The greatest country in the world spits on its people with such poor health care. I really hope you get some disease or injury that requires multiple surgeries/long term care, you go bankrupt, lose your home, loe your health insurance, and freaking die 20 years early.

saturn77 10/02/2009 11:10 AM
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The US pays 2x as much as the second closest country per person in health costs. Why? Because we have a middle man that wants to profit off of us.

I work for a company in the US that also has a similar location in Canada providing tech support. I talk to my counterparts there all the time through an instant messaging program. We get paid the same hourly amount and the SAME EXACT taxes. Just one difference, he gets all the health care he wants while I have to pay for stupid health insurance which I need to subtract from my pay check.

The Canadians that come to the US for coverage are paraded by the health insurace industry on their commercials/lobbys every day. These Canadians are probably rich or hypocondriacts(sp?). Shoot, how do you suppose Steve Jobs got a liver so quick while others wait up to 5+ years for one? Money talks.

Health insurance is not health coverage btw. You still have to go broke if something catastrophic happens. The doctors will still try to sue you if they can if you don't pay up. They sure sued me when I didn't pay the last 5% of my bill when I was disabled for over a year recovering from a car accident that was not my fault.

You guys live in la la land. You guys have no clue. Talk to someone that has to go to the doctor for a chronic condition or has had a bad accident/serious disease, and see how much they "love" our pathetic health industry.

bad_code 10/02/2009 11:34 AM
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If it has wi-fi I would get one without a contract just to develop apps. Then maybe i'd get the cell service. The simulator for the blackberry is really cool but its still a simulator. The whole reason I don't like my iPhone is because I need a mac and I have to write my code in objective-c which is currently used on Macs only as far as I have seen. Used C/C++ and Java on AIX, Solaris etc.

r3t4rd 10/02/2009 12:56 PM
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TemjinGold 10/02/2009 2:20 PM
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You know what I haven't had in a while? Big League Chew...

r3t4rd 10/02/2009 2:34 PM
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TemjinGold :
You know what I haven't had in a while? Big League Chew...



Brings back memory of when I was 10yrs old and the smurfs were still on. Aaaaahhh....Big league chew! Pricesless!!!

eccentric909 10/02/2009 3:32 PM
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r3t4rd :

Canadian Health Care system bashing....



Take a look at this article from the Denver Post please, because it sounds like you're just spewing back uninformed talking points you've heard over the years.

Debunking Canadian Health Care Myths

Dave_69 10/02/2009 11:57 PM
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Sweet. I have the Storm, and I like it, but I wish the OS were a little faster. Hopefully the Storm 2 won't let down. Too bad my Verizon "new every two" contract doesn't come around until February 2011... ARGH!

For $600 - no way.

Anonymous 10/04/2009 5:25 PM
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Great post Saturn77! For those who want to pick out one statistic or another to support their personal view, STOP IT!

The bottom line is that there is great medical care in the U.S. and in Canada. The problems in the U.S. system are higher costs, people who have none or inadequate coverage because they can't afford it, and the possibility of denial even if you thought you had great coverage. If you have coverage and you get approved, you're in! and you get fixed up in jiffy. The problems in Canada are lack of doctors, lack of nurses, lack of specialists in a lot of areas. It's often very difficult now in Ontario to get a family doctor (primary care physician) because there aren't enough. People do have to wait for treatment that they do in fact need. But the reason they have to wait is because someone else needs the treatment more urgently or has in line ahead. When treatment is urgently needed you get it right away. It's a priority system which is not perfect (if you're the one waiting) but the solution is more doctors, more facilities, more equipment which costs money which comes from tax dollars and guess what... no one wants it when they're asked to pay for it (until they're the one waiting of course.

It's all about money in both systems it just manifests itself differently. I'd rather have the Canadian system... I sleep better at night without having to worry about whether I have enough coverage, whether I might get denied treatment that I truly need, whether I might lose my job and my health care along with it, eventually have my health care cancelled if I get a chronic illness and the insurance company gets tired of paying the bills (that is a BIG issue in the US system folks), or any other scenario in which I won't get treatment because I'm not covered for some reason.

Health care costs money. That's it. It costs a certain amount to pay for a certain level of care to the population. Do we pay through taxes or directly? I say through taxes and have the comfort of knowing I'll never be denied, my kids will never be denied, my relatives will never, and no one will lose their house because they or someone they know will DIE unless they can raise the money for their treatment.

ckthecerealkiller 10/06/2009 7:52 PM
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Holy Off topic chatting batman! A blackberry article turning into a healthcare debate....

Anywho, this is a "normal" price for a new BB. The first storm came out with a price of $599 as well. Is it a fair? Tough to say but it isn't high by market standards. I can't wait for some reviews!