09/24/2008, 12:50pm, EDT
Wednesday, September 24thAT&T publishes pro-iPhone, anti-Storm sales guide
A alleged AT&T sales guide, leaked to the public, suggests concern by the carrier over Research in Motion's latest BlackBerry phone. The guide is said to be a memo circulating inside of AT&T, trumpeting the benefits of the iPhone 3G over the BlackBerry Storm, which AT&T claims will ship through Verizon sometime in October or November. The guide states that the Storm will lack Apple's proprietary multi-touch technology, as well as Wi-Fi and tri-band HSDPA, the latter allowing 3G data in more areas outside of North America.
Also disparaged is the absence of the App Store, and iTunes, which AT&T suggests is a better means of syncing music, video and podcasts. The iPhone is also said to have a better browser, though neither RIM nor Verizon have previewed any software. It is likewise unknown what sync software the Storm will support, and whether existing third-party BlackBerry apps will be compatible.
The Storm will be RIM's first touchscreen BlackBerry, and is being marketed explicitly as a competitor to the iPhone. Features are said to include a hybrid GSM/CDMA receiver, 3G support, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The phone should also support visual voicemail, and surpass the iPhone through features such as MMS, turn-by-turn GPS navigation, and the ability to remove batteries and storage.
Filed under: iPhone, mobile phones
Other story tags: AT&T, iPhone 3G, BlackBerry, Verizon, RIM
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My Side Your Side
Why not, Verizon has the same thing but the other way around. Propaganda is propaganda.
Bad Touch keyboard
They should really be pushing how bad the touch on the storm is . Not only do you have to touch the screen keys you must actually push them in to get them to work. So unlike the iPhone that types the letter when you lift your finger, the storm highlights the key when you finger is near it, then only types it when you actually press harder on the phone. This will make typing very hard. Once I have become used to the iphone system. It is hard to imagine going back to a physical key pad on a phone. I am way faster on the iphone then I ever was with a physical keyboard.
If you want to type, then don't get the storm.
Now the iPhone just needs to get the pim functions better. And they will be almost impossible to stop.
Blackberry
Speaking as someone who detests smartphones altogether, I bought the iPhone because it was different than anything RIM or Microsoft had to offer--it works, it's elegant, it's easy to use, and it's not a nerd toy (per se).
Blackberries look like something Bill Gates would carry around. The only Windows Mobile I saw that even remotely looked like something I could carry is the AT&T Tilt but even that is sort of a stretch.
...and don't get me started on the Android--is that thing ugly or what?
How is this guide...
being circulated. Is this something they are going to mail out to people or stick them in newspapers? Or is it a flyer that will be sitting in AT&T stores? As high a profile as the iPhone has, I would think it would practically sell itself. I still can't see traditional BlackBerry users moving to this Storm handset. I would think all the traditionalists would be getting the Thunder.
Waste of time.
Yet another story about how vendor X is going to come out with an "iPhone killer, really soon".
Knowing my own personal experience with RIM outages and crashes, I'll wait at least two years while RIM tries to get it right.
Perhaps RIM will release an awesome device within the next two weeks. But I wouldn't wager any money on it.
BB vs iP
If you're a 'captive audience' ( in a poor/non-existent GSM area) where CDMA prevails, the iP elegance is moot. The BB will likely have quite a bit interest here (MT, ID, WY, UT, NV). BB is also emphasizing their system 'security'.
Curious.
I see the direct comparison as a good tool for informing customer, and comes across better than "the best" or "better than the competitor" speak, which sounds like your usual Koo-Aid.
Who knew breaking the "never name the competitor" model could be broken?
STAFF
This is handed out to staff so customers will never see it.
BT
Well, the one big selling point I see the Blackberry having over my iPhone is the bluetooth. My last phone from Verizon supported pretty much the full suite of bluetooth profiles. My iPhone is ridiculously, woefully crippled when it comes to bluetooth. I'd be willing to bet the Blackberry has full BT functionality.
story
Yet another story about how vendor X is going to come out with an "iPhone killer, really soon".
No, its another story about how provider X is apparently concerned about a product from provider Y and coming out with a 'fact' sheet on why product X is better.
I see the direct comparison as a good tool for informing customer, and comes across better than "the best" or "better than the competitor" speak, which sounds like your usual Koo-Aid.
Gee, when Verizon put out a similar memo (albeit anti-iPhone), they got ripped for being so low-class as to compare themself to a competitor.