BlackBerry Storm's "clickable" touch screen?

[anonycorp]

What a kick ass phone

Time to upgrade from the pearl

 

[Actuary]

Can someone give me an overview of the various data plans Verizon offers? I'm finding their website a tad confusing.

Would the 39.99 plan with access to data for $1.99/mb be usable on the Storm, or am I missing something here?

 

[GJSNeptune]

The $40 is enterprise (BES). You would likely be going with the $30 email & web (BIS) plan. You wouldn't be using a per-MB plan. Both are unlimited. The BIS is capped at 5GB, but it's basically unlimited for 99.9% of users. The only way to really approach 5GB is to tether, but that costs extra.

There are supposed to be new plans I think. I haven't looked into those yet, as I'm using a BIS for my Curve and would continue to use it.

 

[Actuary]

The $40 is enterprise (BES). You would likely be going with the $30 email & web (BIS) plan. You wouldn't be using a per-MB plan. Both are unlimited. The BIS is capped at 5GB, but it's basically unlimited for 99.9% of users. The only way to really approach 5GB is to tether, but that costs extra.

There are supposed to be new plans I think. I haven't looked into those yet, as I'm using a BIS for my Curve and would continue to use it.

So...it's not just $30 a month is it? It's the $30 on top of something else? Sorry for my ignorance, haven't owned a blackberry before.

 

[GJSNeptune]

That's the data plan. Nothing else involved, except your voice plan. Keep in mind that the data plan doesn't cover messaging.

 

[Actuary]

That's the data plan. Nothing else involved, except your voice plan. Keep in mind that the data plan doesn't cover messaging.

Ah I see, so with basic voice and data the plan would be 39.99 + 30 = $69.99 per month. Of course, texting would be extra.

 

[drew630]

^Right.

 

[Actuary]

Hmmm, now I have to decide if the extra $30 a month is worth it, this would be my first BlackBerry/Smartphone. No more printing out maps and looking up directions in advance, internet access everywhere I go...hmmmm.

 

[devman]

That's the data plan. Nothing else involved, except your voice plan. Keep in mind that the data plan doesn't cover messaging.

Worth noting though, you can do cleaver things with unlimited data like use IM or have people who SMS you do so to an email address and reply to them from that email address , and also PIN messaging is free to any blackberry on any network as well.

 

[GJSNeptune]

Yeah. Also you can take a pic and email it instead of sending a PIX message.

Granted, the recipient has to be at a computer or using an appropriate mobile device.

 

[J4M3S0N79]

We are close, children!

Soon the storm will be upon us and all will be well.

I am just super excited that my idjit iphone yapping family will ooo and ahhh over the holidays. My dad is going to be hating on me for sure.

When the see the clicking touchscreen, they will pretend like it's no big deal....but inside the jealousy will be swelling up....consuming them.

 

[The_Mage18]

ok, for the people whining about wifi

your reasons are all incredibly stupid

I also disagree with this statement both on a consumer and corporate position. Having wi-fi built into a phone isn't necessarily a replacement for a data plan but to augment it. Two of the 5 hospitals my employer owns are old, dense stone and brick buildings that cell service is nearly impossible to get anywhere but the outer edges and top floor. We have installed wi-fi access ports though for wireless coverage throughout for our mobile charting carts, medical monitors, phones, and free public wireless internet access. People with wi-fi on their phones can remain connected to send/receive data through the Blackberry Enteprise Server or their own personal sync source (Mobile ME, Blackberry Internet, etc.). Those whos devices are cellular connection only drop off the grid and won't get updates until they move to an area that they can get a decent signal.

 

[J4M3S0N79]

I also disagree with this statement both on a consumer and corporate position. Having wi-fi built into a phone isn't necessarily a replacement for a data plan but to augment it. Two of the 5 hospitals my employer owns are old, dense stone and brick buildings that cell service is nearly impossible to get anywhere but the outer edges and top floor. We have installed wi-fi access ports though for wireless coverage throughout for our mobile charting carts, medical monitors, phones, and free public wireless internet access. People with wi-fi on their phones can remain connected to send/receive data through the Blackberry Enteprise Server or their own personal sync source (Mobile ME, Blackberry Internet, etc.). Those whos devices are cellular connection only drop off the grid and won't get updates until they move to an area that they can get a decent signal.

I do agree with your reasoning, but I think most of us believe that the situation you present is the exception and not the norm. From blackberry's perspective, I think it makes sense to present a product that is as accessible as possible to the widest range of users in their target demo. For enterprises, the availability of WiFi may be a necessity, but even if adding it means adding $10 to the cost of each device, I doubt the returns would justify it's inclusion.

Of course, I would prefer to have wifi available all things being equal...I just don't foresee a need for it. Of course, look at what happened with the curve...some had GPS and some had WiFi. Maybe this will be a way for carriers to create separation in the market. Maybe, it'll just be a revision 2.0 hardware inclusion.....

Who knows....maybe I will eay my words and one day I will be really wishing for WiFi access.....

 

[The_Mage18]

I do agree with your reasoning, but I think most of us believe that the situation you present is the exception and not the norm. From blackberry's perspective, I think it makes sense to present a product that is as accessible as possible to the widest range of users in their target demo. For enterprises, the availability of WiFi may be a necessity, but even if adding it means adding $10 to the cost of each device, I doubt the returns would justify it's inclusion.

Well... Yes and no. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities to be somewhere you didn't get a very good cellular signal but there's a Starbucks/Barnes and Noble/Free Wi-fi hotel nearby. Granted the chances are slim but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

T-Mobile also has the capability that if you purchase one of their phones with wi-fi and their router, you can use the wi-fi for voice calls and save your air time minutes. For some, they can reduce their plan without sacrificing talk time. This coupled with the increase of Vonage and VoIP users puts pressure on the other carriers to compete in some fasion. Of course this is all based on the theory that Storm-esque Blackberrys will be available from other carriers as well.

Of course, look at what happened with the Curve...some had GPS and some had WiFi. Maybe this will be a way for carriers to create separation in the market. Maybe, it'll just be a revision 2.0 hardware inclusion.....

Touche. I know four people with Curves and all of them have slightly different feature sets even though two of them are on the same carrier. The last is on the same carrier I have. I have GPS, he doesn't.

 

[GJSNeptune]

It's just Verizon being jerks and telling RIM to leave out certain features (GPS, WiFi) for their models. Other carriers don't care, or maybe it's to compensate for their inferior network!

I don't think any Curve comes with both GPS and WiFi. I don't think it had the room to include both. Carriers had to choose one. Verizon, of course, chose GPS and further to cripple it so it can only be used with VZ Nav.

 

[devman]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if there was some give/take engineering reason for Wi-Fi being left out (like it's already got half a dozen other radios), I doubt it though, but not beyond the realm of possibility. The only reason I say that is Verizon really has no reason to cripple this phone, Data plans are required anyway now so Wi-Fi wouldn't hurt them.

I personally won't miss Wi-fi, even if the Storm had it, I'd have it turned off so it wouldn't suck down battery life.

 

[dandragonrage]

AT&T has much better coverage.

Compared to whom? Definitely not true if you compare to Verizon. Perhaps in your area (I almost feel bad for you if so), but not overall.

Wi-Fi is, IMO, a necessity when you consider how all of the major providers are short-changing us on what they once claimed were "unlimited data" plans.