BlackBerry Storm 2 Rumored for Verizon This Year
Image courtesy of Slashgear
There have been few smartphones that have generated such a wild range of emotions as RIM’s BlackBerry Storm. Reaction to the Storm with the SurePress touchscreen ranges from absolute hatred to affection from those who like it. The one shortcoming of the Storm that both camps agree on is that RIM made a big mistake leaving WiFi out of the phone. The expectation that Skype will soon be available for the BlackBerry platform drives that shortcoming home as it is assumed Verizon will prohibit use of the VoIP app over 3G, just as AT&T has done on the iPhone.
Slashgear has a source for a rumor that claims Verizon has approved the BlackBerry Storm 2 for release in September. The source wouldn’t divulge all the changes the update will bring other than that the inclusion of WiFi is a given. A Son of Storm device done properly could tempt some of the “I hate the Storm” crowd to change camps. Maybe.
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I sort of understand why At&T and Verizon are worried about VoiP and other bandwidth intensive apps on the 3G network, but I wish that they would make it a consumer decision. Some of us might be willing to pay for a high bandwidth account which would allow Skype and Sling access on the storm.
I pay 15.00 a month now for 5 GB of tethered access which I used last night to stream a video from Amazon to my EEE PC. Skype is not so nice on the EEE pc this way, but it is passable in a pinch. I have watched my Sling over 3G via the EEE PC as well.
They let me pay for the access this way, i wish they would let me pay to access these apps of the 3G network as well.
I’m not sure how current Storm users feel about it. I would not be very happy unless there is a good upgrade promo. In any case, this news shows Storm was rushed to the market.