US BlackBerry Storm launch rushed

Co-CEO says "software glitches" part of "new reality" of smartphones

26 January 2009 10:57 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

RIM has admitted they made the deadline for the launch of the BlackBerry Storm in the US "by the skin of their teeth", according to the company's co-chief executive Jim Balsillie.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on problems with Verizon's BlackBerry Storm following reports of technical bugs and glitches with RIM's first touchscreen phone.

Citing "people familiar with the matter" Verizon, who has the exclusive in the US as Vodafone does in the UK, is said to have sold around 500,000 units in the first month.

Complaints with the phone have included "clunky software for typing on the touchscreen" and "sluggish performance with basic tasks like dialing-by-voice or taking photographs".

The WSJ says: "Verizon and RIM, determined to release the Storm in time for the holidays, rushed the device to market despite glitches in the stability of the phone's operating system, according to people close to the launch".

Balsillie also said such "scrambles" and the "subsequent software glitches" are part of the "new reality" of making complex cellphones in large volumes.

With one software update issued in December, another update has been leaked on the web, but there's no official word when this will be released.

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Comments

  • An official update is desperately needed as the phone is driving me nuts. It being extremely slow to wake, getting stuck in landscape, predictive text reactivating and the phone randomly switching to vibrate are all overshadowing what I originally thought was a great phone.

    I'm now longing the trouble free simplicity of my Nokia 6300
    Posted by Slippy Sloppy, UK
  • This blackberry is all but stupid.
    They need to leave the touch screen business to Apple. It doesn't work, its hard to text, and i love my Blackberry Bold. I know what they're like, and this is definately a failure.
    Posted by J_Harvey, United States
  • Mr. Balsillie's short term vision will only cost him and his company in the long haul. RIM is known for producing quality useful devices. I would only expect mediocore, unfinshed products from MIcrosoft and Bill Gates. As consumers we do not have to take nor allow this type of approach to business. This is surely not the innovation from an award winner. Enjoy it mow mr. Balsillie as I hope you'll find a home for all the returned Storms. Posted by Disappointed Dave, USA

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