Discussion on:

BlackBerry Storm has the stuff to leapfrog the iPhone in the enterprise

Original post:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=884

Do you currently support multiple mobile platforms or have you consolidated around a single platform?

Despite the ease of activation and administration and license management of activesynch on Exchange our corporate demigods have made a commitment to the altar of the Goddess of BES...

In a world of cost cutting and license management it makes no sense...

Unless your company is like mine where mobile activesync does not meet our security needs as far as enforcing full device encryption, therefore making BES make complete sense.

Ya think?!! It seems you're the only one in the world who thinks this Blackberry phone is any good. Read these articles to get a more realistic view of this product.

"Storm of protest at latest BlackBerry" (http://www.smh.com.au/news/digital-life/smart-phone/storm-of-protest-at-latest-blackberry/2008/12/05/1228257302330.html)

"Novelty wears off fast; screen feels cheap; Steer clear of this storm" - Time Magazine (http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1860717,00.html

"Awkward, disappointing; a failed experiment" - PC World (http://www.pcworld.com/article/154212/blackberrys_storm_awkward_and_disappointing.html)

"Heavy, laggy, sluggish, unstable, clunky, and tiring" - Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/5093715/blackberry-storm-review-verdict-not-quite-a-perfect-storm)

"Frustrating, inelegant, uncomfortable; a disappointment" - Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/19/blackberry-storm-review/)

"Can?t compete with Apple?s iPhone" - Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/technology/chi-thu-buzz-blackberry-storm-nov20,0,3591085.column)

For some users, an additional consideration is the ability to host specific applications. If you need the ability to input and use Microsoft Office functionality, neither phones hit the mark. (Even with the "almost capable" Documents to Go application.) Some advanced functions are only available on MS Mobile Office.

So, to stay on Verizon and use MS Mobile Office advanced functionality, many will continue to use the Palm Treo smart phones.

I think these users are still waiting.

Does the Storm have 3G web browsing? I heard RIM's backend was not compatible.

What about typing on the Storm?

Well I like the looks of it so far. I do data tech support for the industry and I see the first thing that will frustrate users will be the lack of keyboard and the ability to adapt to the new user interface and be able to communicate the issues to a technical support person. The clickable screen will be the first thing to fail and cause the users not to be able to use the phone at all to even make a call.

On the wifi issue... somebody needs to quickly develop a bluetooth to wifi device and the application to interface with it that can be downloaded.

Blackberry should also get better streaming flash video integration with out the need to transcode it.

If your a true road-warrior, I can see it's
attractions - but no corporate with Wifi
access is going to want a building full of
power-workers synching their email over
Verizon's (or Vodafone's in Europe) network.
With voice tariffs no longer generating
serious revenue, I'm suspicious of any
single-provider phone that forces me to
exchange data using only the phone network.

No deal!

Wi-Fi is a must-have feature. I'd never recommend a smart phone without Wi-Fi nor would I buy such phone.

Verizon will never allow Wi-Fi in their devices. Doing so will mean they may not be able to see their EDVO . . . .

I think you pointed out all the pitfalls. Lack of being intuitive.
No WiFi.
If you have to change all the cables, what is there to gain?
especially with push
technology for calenders and email.
give a new salesperson an iphone and a storm and ask them
which one they
became more productive with faster.

Chicago Tribune reviews RIM???s BlackBerry Storm: ???Can???t compete with Apple???s iPhone???

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/technology/chi-thu-buzz-blackberry-storm-nov20,0,3591085.column


Gizmodo reviews RIM???s BlackBerry Storm: ???Heavy, laggy, sluggish, unstable, clunky, and tiring???

http://gizmodo.com/5093715/blackberry-storm-review-verdict-not-quite-a-perfect-storm


Engadget reviews RIM???s BlackBerry Storm: ???Frustrating, inelegant, uncomfortable; a disappointment???

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/19/blackberry-storm-review/


PC World reviews RIM???s BlackBerry Storm: ???Awkward, disappointing; a failed experiment???

http://www.pcworld.com/article/154212/blackberrys_storm_awkward_and_disappointing.html


TIME Mag reviews RIM???s BlackBerry Storm: ???Novelty screen feels cheap; steer clear of this storm???

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1860717,00.html

I'm not recommending it. I'm just saying that it's good enough that a lot of businesses and IT departments will likely opt for it over the iPhone - especially the ones that already have a BlackBerry infrastructure or use Verizon as their mobile partner.

As for the software slowness, I think RIM will likely fix that in an upcoming software update. The first version iPhone 3G had a bunch of software glitches and problems until Apple released the first update, and I think this is a similar situation. Even with its worts, the Storm interface is as good or better than Windows Mobile.

If I were buying a business smartphone right now I would go with the BlackBerry Bold, but I do a lot of messaging and I prefer a hardware keyboard to a touch screen.

I was expecting to read about a really cool new phone, not another feeble attempt to copy
the iPhone and hopefully retain a few customers who might settle for this sub-iPhone just
because switching platforms is annoying.

Is it only the 'iPod with Phone' vs. the company that is screwing us for ages with expensive service charges? there is a tested, well-crafted, open platform out there that can have a better screen (480x640! how's that for "the best screen on a smart phone"?) better form factor (tried to put an iPhone in your pocket?) full, out-of-the-box compatibility with Exchange push-email with no added hardware/software/service charge; multitude of business & leisure application software. The same user interface and OS appear in multiple phones - to fit all the corporate users (with\without keyboard, for example).
Its called Windows Mobile; look at the HTC Diamond (and NOT the Pro when you want to compare keyboardless solutions!)

I love it for my organization. It's just not as cute and cuddly as the competitors. Everything works seamlessly as far as syncing email, calendars and contacts. HTC does have some awesome solutions. I have people in my organization using a tilt with some custom gis software. Insert a military spec gps sensor and we have a solution that other GIS companies were charging several thousand dollars for a device that does wifi and broadband along with gps. Our solution is less than $400 and does the same thing. Add to that and the security features I ca push out to my mobile users and I have a soluution that works great. I was sold on windows mobile ever since I evaluted the tilt. I used vpn and remote desktop to disable a server gone haywire and wreaking havoc by constantly broadcasting one weekend...from my boat. No laptop for miles and I wasn't looking foward to telling my son we had to pack up and go home. Allthough the screen was tiny, I was able to correct the issue. I went out the following Monday and bought a tilt for myself.

Unfortunately many people detest windows mobile and we'll both be stoned publicly for even suggesting it as an alternative.

although a lot of IT pros tend to like Windows Mobile because it's usually a little easier and cheaper to deploy to end users and it has some good tools that admins can use for managing Windows servers and networks.

I'm testing a Tilt right now and it has lots of good functionality and usefulness, but unfortunately it is exceedingly clunky, slow, and annoying.

It's pretty, but Ifind touch screens hard to use. "takes a little getting used to" says it all. Style over function. We've forgotten the point. And, for RIM, apparently style over sales numbrs.

The swtich to non standard connectors is as annoying as when Apple did it.

Hope (for shareholders sake) they don't abandon keyboards just yet.

Keyboard devices are still their bread and butter and will be for years to come. The Storm is just a way to provide a direct counter-point to the iPhone.

Personally, I prefer the Bold to the Storm and those are RIM's two next-gen devices. The Bold will likely be available on all of the carriers (similar to the Curve). I'm not sure how long the Storm will be an exclusive on Verizon - probably as long as iPhone is an exclusive on AT&T.

There are a number of large companies that deploy techs in the field and use RIM devices as an integral part of their work order delivery system. My hardware warranty people that drop in to replace deffective hardware (Cisco, IBM, Nortel, Dell, HP, NCR or whoever it may be) all come carrying a RIM with some sort of work order text based system for keeping track of employee time and materials in the field.

I think RIM will always keep a keyboard based device available for those customers.

But it is a good "across the board" solution. My very small team manages a very large WAN spread out over a city. It greatly benefits me to keep things standard until it is otherwise deemed. I will listen to requests (for Blackberries and iPhones) but they better come with support because management is on my side on this one. I have to comply with many security standards including HIPAA. If I bring in Blackberries and iPhones I need to prepare security accordingly. Keep it simple and save money. Are they really going to be that much more productive with an iPhone and its intuitive os?

Coincidentally, after carrying around a smart phone for over a year I now yearn for the days of my slimmer "dumb" phone. I could break my addiction to windows mobile if someone would give me a basic phone that offers outlook sync ability so that I can get my server room environment and Cisco emergency notifications along with my outlook contacts and calendars. Give me something like the Blackberry Pearl, but with a more masculine name and a little more "dumb". Strip it down, and give me nothing but outlook sync and MAYBE a stripped down web browser, all in a tidy package that won't make one side of my jacket sag lower when wearing a suit.

I used it over the weekend and compared it to the iphone which I don't own. I hated the Storm. I hated the fact that I HAD to press the glass down to make a choice rather than just a light touch on the glass. The constant clicking and pressing of the glass to make contact made my typing go much slower than it should have and errors occurred because of this.

Navigation was awkward and the software is extremely slow to respond to your inputs. If you want to go into your contacts list it takes a while for the software to take you there. It plods along and the experience becomes frustrating. It also doesn't move the screen image from vertical to horizontal quickly or accurately. I couldn't get the one I was using to go to horizontal no matter what I did for about five minutes. After going in and out of some menus it finally reoriented itself.

I really wanted this phone because I didn't want to jump from Verizon to AT&T but this phone is not the slick, polished or even ready phone we've been led to believe. That coupled with the fact it doesn't have Wifi, for me pretty much sealed it's fate with me and a few friends that were going to buy it also. I'll wait a while longer for something more polished and improved before I part with my $200.

The better HTC model to compare with is not Touch Pro but Touch HD. With the TouchFLO UI, 5 meg camera and 480x800 screen res among other features, it is the closest thing to a iPhone killer to date.

The Storm was built with no wifi per VZW's specifications. If you can't force your customers to buy a data plan like Apple does you just don't include the option (wifi) in the phone. This makes customers purchase the data option which builds more revenue for VZW. I think in the long run this will hurt the sales of the phone for non-business tech savvy consumers.

I use the HTC Touch with Windos Mobile as does my wife. Composing e-mails using the "Touch Keyboard" seems just as fast if not faster to me than the standard qwerty keyboard on the I-Phone or the tactile keyboard of the treo & blackberry. The biggest advantage that I still use and prefer is the handwriting recognition. I still find this faster than pecking away on a keyboard. For the most part in my meetings I use my HTC touch instead of a paper pad to take notes on with a 3-in-1 pen/stylus/pencil. With the new Skyfire browser for windows mobile, web browsing is very competative with the I-Phone. Add Microsoft Voice Command and my 800+ contacts are as easy to call as tapping my blue tooth headset and saying their name or even the number I want the phone to call.

The I-Phone does have some neat gimics, like the gyro-sensor and the multi-touch but as for a smartphone for taking notes, contacts, calendar, e-mail, texting, web-browsing, tethering and making phone calls I still think that my windows mobile phone is the way to go.

Without WiFi, not a chance.

Can you tell me why, when mentioning the Storm's good features that you don't mention that it can view and edit Word, Excel, and PDF files - which the iPhone can't do! You spend all your time talking about the feel of the keys, etc. By including that capability, the Storm can attack the Pocket PC market. The lack of WiFi, of course, is a stupid omission.