BlackBerry Storm 9530

The BlackBerry Storm is the first entry by smartphone leader BlackBerry into the world of touchscreens. BlackBerry’s claim to fame has always been its exceptional mobile email functionality and manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) has steadfastly insisted that a physical keyboard is best suited for typing. That said, even stalwart RIM couldn’t ignore the market pressures, led by Apple’s phenomenally successful iPhone 3G, which have placed priority on a touchscreen.

The BlackBerry Storm 9530 is the CDMA version of the GSM BlackBerry Storm 9500 which was recently released by Vodaphone in Europe. The Storm 9530 is marketed exclusively by Verizon Wireless in the U.S. It will also be available in Canada from Telus and Bell.

There’s no question that RIM’s intention for the Storm is for it to be the best smartphone available so the omission of Wi-Fi from its feature set is big surprise. Now, with that complaint out of the way, here are the remarkable features of the Storm 9530.

Standout Features

• Unique SureTouch touchscreen
• Microsoft Exchange support
• Ev-DO Rev A data network
• 3.2 megapixel camera with video recording
• SureTouch Screen

Features

Successful businesses can’t ignore consumer demands and expect to be on top. Acknowledging that reality, the first BlackBerry with a touchscreen is now available. One might say that it’s about time but don’t be fooled – this touchscreen really is different and it just might have been worth the wait. Only time will reveal how well it holds up in real life use.

BlackBerry calls this screen SureTouch which is a name change from its original moniker of ClickThrough. The new name works better in conjunction with the SureType keyboard option. But it’s the function, not the name that matters. BlackBerry’s aim was to provide the full tactile sensation and typing accuracy and speed of a physical keyboard. To achieve that objective, the screen employs two levels of touch. A light touch highlights a selection while a firmer one activates an action such as pushing a key. The screen is on a unique suspension system that depresses slightly. The screen is a solid piece of glass so the entire screen moves under pressure but the unique design gives the sensory illusion that the specific key was pushed. There is a satisfying, audible click associated with depressing a key. That is a major step up from the mild vibration felt when pressing a haptic feedback touchscreen or no tactile feedback at all as featured on many currently available touchscreens. Double tapping will zoom in on an image and swiping the finger across the screen will scroll.

The light sensing screen measures 3.25-inches diagonally compared to the industry leading iPhone 3G’s 3.5-inch display. It has the same 480x360 resolution making for a bit higher pixel-per-inch concentration and a remarkably clear and precise image. Though completely flat, the virtual keyboard image is so sharp that it actually looks like separate keys. Combine that with SureTouch’s feedback and you just may forget that there isn’t really a keyboard present. Like the iPhone 3G, the phone has a built-in accelerometer which allows for the screen to automatically switch from portrait to landscape orientation depending on how the user is holding the device. When in landscape mode, there is a full QWERY virtual keyboard. In portrait mode, the keyboard display is SureType, the two letters per key, predictive text mode that some people love and some hate. A multi-tap option is also available.

BlackBerry’s reputation was built on being the consummate corporate communication tool and the Storm in no way abandons that legacy. Using the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), the device is fully compatible with Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, and Novell GroupWise. That allows for remote synchronization not only of email but also of corporate calendars, contact lists, note pads and to-do lists. It also gives access to other selected organizational data bases. Integration with existing corporate email is simple and IT administrators have the ability to set over 400 different access and security permissions. Data transmission is secured by integrated 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or Triple Data Encryption Standard (DES). In the event of a lost or stolen device, sensitive data can be remotely wiped from it. For users who don’t need the BES, synchronization with computer based calendar, contact list and task lists such as MS Outlook can be accomplished using the included BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

The Storm 9530 is a true world-phone operating in North America on the CDMA network with high-speed 3.5G Ev-DO Rev A compatibility. Elsewhere, it supports quad-band GSM networks and high-speed HSPA data transfer. The device can be used as a wireless modem for your laptop computer either tethered with the USB cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth.

As with other BlackBerry smartphones, up to ten push email accounts are supported and all popular personal email options are available. HTML email support allows for embedded images and charts as well as customized font and format options. Attachments such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint can be edited as well as viewed in their native format. Text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messaging are available as are all popular instant messaging applications.

The Storm features a 3.2-megapixel, 2x zoom, auto-focus camera with a flash. Choices for three picture sizes and resolutions as well as are some special effects options are available. Geo-tagging can be added using the built-in GPS receiver. The camera also provides video recording capabilities. Still photos and videos can easily be sent via MMS messaging or uploaded to social networking sites.

The integrated media player is easy to use and versatile. It supports use of most popular audio file formats including MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, and WMA ProPlus. Media library management is supported by the included Roxio Media Manager software. You can also use the BlackBerry MediaSync program to load your iTunes directly onto the device. MPEG-4, WMV, and H.263 video file types are supported and watching videos on the Storm’s screen is a pleasure. The Storm has 128MB flash memory and an additional 1GB of onboard memory which is expandable by addition of up to a 16GB MicroSD/SDHC card. An 8GB card comes pre-installed on the phone. There is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and Bluetooth stereo headphones are supported.

Talk time is rated at 330 minutes while standby time is an estimated 360 hours.

There is nothing particularly unique about the Storm’s design. It doesn’t have a notably different overall look than the iPhone or other high end smart phones. It’s comfortable in the hand but the feel of any device is a personal preference and only by handling it can you know how well it meets your needs.

Summary

The BlackBerry Storm 9530 easily ranks among the best smartphones on the market. It hangs onto its business phone roots but offers an excellent suite of multimedia and consumer features. Its SureTouch screen makes it excellent for typing compared to other touchscreens but still isn’t as usable as a physical keyboard for that purpose. We’ll have to wait and see how reliable the suspended screen proves to be. Its media player is terrific except when compared to iPhone’s integrated iPod. Overall, there aren’t many devices that pack as much of a punch as this one.

Check out our list of other top-rated smartphones to see which phone you would like to have.