Storm clouds are rolling in and it won’t be too long now before BlackBerry unleash the Thunder on the Apple iPhone, Samsung Instinct, LG Vu, HTC Diamond and any other full touch screen phones coming to market. Website BGR first leaked information regarding a new full touchscreen handset from BlackBerry codenamed ‘Thunder’ and is likely to be sold as the BlackBerry 9500. The touchscreen BlackBerry 9500 Thunder is claimed to be unveiled in Q3 (or as early as summer of this year) with Verizon and Vodafone having lifetime exclusivity. The Wall Street Journal has apparently also confirmed that the BlackBerry Thunder is real, coming and is possibly the biggest threat the iPhone has seen. The WSJ and BGR did not reveal sources as to where they had obtained information regarding the BlackBerry Thunder.
The BlackBerry Thunder smartphone may also have the most technically advanced cellular wireless support ever, according to the claim. Should the claim is accurate; the BlackBerry Thunder would include both GSM and CDMA with support for worldwide roaming. Owners of the Thunder will enjoy surfing on 3.5G or even pre-4G data and may support up to Ultra Mobile Broadband (aka EVDO Revision C) on Verizon’s CDMA networks. Download speeds can possibly be achieved up to 280Mbps in peak conditions, while adding full High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) on GSM services. So what does this mean? Basically, this support would allow the BlackBerry Thunder to work in nearly any country with 3G or better Internet access.
This hybrid (GSM/CDMA) operation is likely going to be one of many reasons why the Verizon and European stakeholder Vodafone will sell boatloads of the BlackBerry Thunder. The exclusivity arrangement would end, should sales for the Thunder fall short. At which point, other carriers such as Sprint are then allowed to offer the Thunder. I’m sure Sprint wouldn’t mind sloppy seconds especially with a mighty fine smartphone - like the BlackBerry Thunder. Perhaps Sprint can call it the ‘Storm’.
It is important to point out that the reported launch information contradicts with some of Verizon’s existing and future network rollout plans. Verizon currently operate on a somewhat slower EVDO Revision A service for data and has already announced plans to switch to LONG TERM Evolution (LTE) for its next generation wireless network. As a result, Verizon will drop CDMA entirely, which is then replaced by the 700MHz 4G standard that it will likely share with Vodafone, AT&T, and other GSM carriers. To date, Verizon has not announced plans to upgrade its EVDO network beyond revision A and says it will launch LTE by late 2009, with more coverage throughout the US by 2010. Vodafone currently supports HSPA and plans to switch to LTE around the same time.
When the storm and Thunder hits, are the competitors ready?
BlackBerry Thunder mockup and unlikely to represent the final product.
RIM officially declines comment on the BlackBerry Thunder, referring to corporate policy that avoids discussing rumors.
UPDATE 6/8/08
RIM’s iPhone killer was conveniently seen in the wild by the folks over at the Boy Genius Report a day before Steve Jobs will take the stage at Apple’s WWDC to introduce the 3G iPhone version 2.0. BGR is claiming this is a live shot of the final device, which could hit store shelves and Apple’s bottom line sometime in September. It looks very similar to a striking resemblance to the minimalistic mock-ups that were floating around in May, and the Verizon exclusivity rumor appears to be true(er). [Boy Genius Report]