So Research In Motion’s latest big baby is now out, the BlackBerry Storm has stormed into the stores, and considering all the net coverage it has been given there can’t be many mobile phone owner out there who haven’t heard mention of the Storm somewhere along the line.
So just how good is the BlackBerry Storm? Has the Storm received enough coverage to make the difference? The art of success in this mobile world all rests on how well a manufacturer promotes their latest handset as the all singing, all dancing, and best thing since Morse code, most wanted mobile phone available.
The reason I believe this relates back to the launch of the Apple iPhone, which was a phenomenal success, and why, mainly to the promotion Apple put into the device. Then followed the much hyped Google’s answer, the T-Mobile G1, which slipped out virtually unnoticed on its release.
So now we reach the release of the BlackBerry Storm, and I can’t help holding it up to the Apple iPhone and thinking…nope. Maybe the BlackBerry Storm has been pushed enough, maybe its “clickable” touch-screen is enough to make it sell well, but will it sell as good as the Apple iPhone, I doubt it.
Being a writer I belong to a few writing website over the net, some in England and some in the US, which gives me a large cross-section of hundreds if not thousands of people ranging from students through the ages to senior citizens. Since working for Phones Review I have gotten into the habit of asking people what mobile phone (cell phone for our American friends) they use or prefer.
The thing that sticks with me is that I would estimate 99% of those I know via the net, which is a wide ranging cross-section of the US taking in several states, and several other countries, most of these people don’t use a BlackBerry handset, and when I ask what cell/mobile phone would you like to own, can you guess the answer?
One other snippet I’ve noticed with many Americans in particular, when I mention the Android G1 they ask, “What’s that?” speaks for itself really.
So in closing, I’d like to ask our readers this question…If you were offered a choice between the BlackBerry Storm and the Apple iPhone 3G, which would you opt for?
James.