Verizon Storm2 on October 28th, BlackBerry OS 5.0 for original Storm out now
If you have an original Storm purchased through Verizon then first, our condolences. At the risk of rubbing it in (since you're still on contract) we have to tell you that the second generation Storm2 …
Context & Ripple Effects
Verizon had been preparing the Storm2 for months, from an early report that it would add Wi-Fi to its appearance in Verizon inventory. Its August $50 price cut for the first Storm also created a clear lower-cost position before the successor arrived.
The confirmed October 28 date resolves a late-September report pointing to an earlier launch window. Verizon is bringing the Storm2 into a fourth-quarter handset lineup led by Droid while extending OS 5.0 to original Storm owners.
First-order effects
- Verizon customers can choose the new Storm2 on October 28, while original Storm owners receive OS 5.0 rather than being left on the prior software.
- Verizon can sell the discounted original Storm and the Storm2 as separate handset tiers, instead of forcing existing inventory into direct comparison with the new model.
Second-order effects
- Verizon must differentiate the Storm2 from Droid within its fourth-quarter lineup, making software, hardware features and price central to how it allocates sales attention.
- BlackBerry retains a supported installed base on Verizon as the carrier markets a successor, reducing the immediate pressure on original Storm owners to replace their devices.
Third-order effects
- The paired hardware launch and software update point to a carrier upgrade model in which older devices are kept serviceable while pricing and new features steer buyers toward the next generation.
- As Verizon broadens its smartphone lineup, handset vendors face greater pressure to earn a distinct place in the carrier's launch calendar rather than relying on a single flagship slot.
The trend: Verizon is moving toward a more segmented smartphone portfolio, using software support and pricing to manage transitions between device generations.