Storm vs. iPhone: Both Have Issues

I’ve come full-circle.

Last night, I returned a Blackberry Storm, the same one I purchased 29 days earlier when I returned an iPhone I’d bought a couple of weeks before that. As it turns out, after struggling over which one would be best for me, I decided that neither of them was the right one.

Regular readers might recall that I returned the iPhone because of weak AT&T service in my area. I loved the phone itself - the variety of available apps was my favorite thing - but I just couldn’t see paying $100-plus every month for a phone that had subpar service. As a Verizon Wireless customer, I already knew the service was strong. And as a longtime Blackberry user, I knew I’d have no trouble figuring out how to use the Storm.

But I found the Storm’s touchscreen and accelerometer - the technology that shifts the screen between portrait and landscape modes - to be buggy. The keys were slow to react and there were times that the accelerometer would get stuck on landscape mode, no matter how much I moved it around.

I also had trouble - get this - making an actual phone call. There really was no quick way to just make a simple phone call. Getting to a dialpad or the contacts list wasn’t necessarily hard. But it was a cumbersome process to get there. While I am mostly an email/text kind of guy, I occasionally need to make an actual call and the Storm made it too hard.

For me, it wasn’t worth the money spent.

Now that I’ve returned the Storm, I’m still eligible for my contract-renewal upgrade. I know it’s just a rumor, but until Apple actually does offer up the iPhone for Verizon Wireless, I think I’ll just stick with my old Blackberry - and hang on to my money.

Comments

[j_remington:]

MANY people will cancel their $100 monthly smartphone.

Feb 25 10:17 AM

[terder:]

1) What makes up your $100/month bill ? Just curious.

2) Did you have issues with AT&T's service or truly with the iPhone ? You're not comparing Apples to Apples. You're comparing AT&T Service with the Storm's usability.

To be fair to Apple your headline should be "Storm vs. AT&T Service: Both Have Issues." -- But then you wouldn't get as many people reading your pointless blog.

Feb 25 10:36 AM

[pardeemp:]

Interest that I ran across this today as I have a Storm (provided by Work) and an iPhone that I have for my personal use. For me, the Storm has been a pretty rough experience and I hope they can address some of the issues with a new software release - and hopefully soon. The screen is beautiful, but I can type much faster on the iPhone than I can on the Storm. I also have problems making and receiving calls and find that I often have to call people back because I missed the call while hitting Answer over and over again but it is too slow to respond. I have had similar frustrations with making calls and found that, for me, using the voice dialing has helped tremendously. The accelerometer is very buggy and I find myself turning the phone back and forth a couple of times to make it understand the view I really wanted. The keyboard also disappears in landscape mode if I type too fast so typing is a very deliberate event when I use it. Actually, the Storm has made me a fan of SureType, which I never used when I had the Curve. It seems to work better than the landscape keyboard.

As you said, the iPhone is not perfect, although AT&T has been very good for me - even the 3G service. I was not expecting it to do so well since I have been a Verizon customer for so long. It still needs MMS, Video, and a little better camera, but I'll stick with the iPhone for personal use and am holding off for a Storm update that addresses many of its issues, before I just return to the Curve, which was a really good device.

Nice article.

Feb 25 10:52 AM

[User 364232:]

Every single issue you mention has already been fixed in beta versions of the system software for the phone, and should therefore be addressed when Verizon releases another official update. I am not defending the premature release of buggy software, but the Storm is infinitely better running the latest leaked beta than it was out of the box...you should try again.

Feb 25 01:18 PM

[kris23:]

Agreed. I own a Storm and the most annoying part is trying to make a phone call. You have to hit about 3 buttons just to get to the dial pad. And I've had problems answering the phone because the Answer key is too slow to respond. As far as typing text messages/emails, I haven't really had a problem. It's kinda slow but I'm used to it now. I have an iTouch and just cant type on the keyboard on there because they letters are too small and I always end up hitting the wrong ones. I mainly got the Storm because I have Verizon. And if I had ATT I probably would of got an iPhone. In my opinion, they both have their pro's and con's and one isn't necessarily better.

Feb 25 01:22 PM

[iPhoneY:]

There is an MMS application available for the iPhone (Free application). I have not used it and cannot vouch for its effectiveness, but would suggest you give it a spin.

Be well.


On Feb 25 10:52 AM pardeemp wrote:

> Interest that I ran across this today as I have a Storm (provided
> by Work) and an iPhone that I have for my personal use. For me,
> the Storm has been a pretty rough experience and I hope they can
> address some of the issues with a new software release - and hopefully
> soon. The screen is beautiful, but I can type much faster on the
> iPhone than I can on the Storm. I also have problems making and
> receiving calls and find that I often have to call people back because
> I missed the call while hitting Answer over and over again but it
> is too slow to respond. I have had similar frustrations with making
> calls and found that, for me, using the voice dialing has helped
> tremendously. The accelerometer is very buggy and I find myself
> turning the phone back and forth a couple of times to make it understand
> the view I really wanted. The keyboard also disappears in landscape
> mode if I type too fast so typing is a very deliberate event when
> I use it. Actually, the Storm has made me a fan of SureType, which
> I never used when I had the Curve. It seems to work better than
> the landscape keyboard.
>
> As you said, the iPhone is not perfect, although AT&T has been
> very good for me - even the 3G service. I was not expecting it to
> do so well since I have been a Verizon customer for so long. It
> still needs MMS, Video, and a little better camera, but I'll stick
> with the iPhone for personal use and am holding off for a Storm update
> that addresses many of its issues, before I just return to the Curve,
> which was a really good device.
>
> Nice article.

Feb 25 03:58 PM

[User 364337:]

Why haven't you tried Sprint's Instinct?? Sprint has the fastest network available and the $99/mo Simply Everything Plan is unbeatable! I love my Instinct and wouldn't trade it for anything!! T and VZ aren't the only players out there.

Feb 25 04:03 PM

[Geddy:]

No, I believe he pretty much said AT&T's service was sub-par compared to VZW's service, which is what most other customers say about it.


On Feb 25 10:36 AM terder wrote:

> 1) What makes up your $100/month bill ? Just curious.
>
> 2) Did you have issues with AT&T's service or truly with the
> iPhone ? You're not comparing Apples to Apples. You're comparing
> AT&T Service with the Storm's usability.
>
> To be fair to Apple your headline should be "Storm vs. AT&T Service:
> Both Have Issues." -- But then you wouldn't get as many people reading
> your pointless blog.

Feb 25 04:07 PM

[Geddy:]

Because Sprint sucks! Fastest network??? Try reading JD Powers for reviews.


On Feb 25 04:03 PM User 364337 wrote:

> Why haven't you tried Sprint's Instinct?? Sprint has the fastest
> network available and the $99/mo Simply Everything Plan is unbeatable!
> I love my Instinct and wouldn't trade it for anything!! T and VZ
> aren't the only players out there.

Feb 25 04:09 PM

[waf76:]

Not sure where you live but T's service on the iPhone has been great for me in NYC. Most Verizon phones are not equipped to go overseas with so its a non starter for me. They got 2 fers going on with the Storms so you know the phone is junk. With a basic plan, the iphone data, and unlimited text messaging, its a $100 dollar monthly bill.

Feb 25 04:48 PM

[Wifiguy:]

Your answer is Sprint and the Palm Pre my friend the best of both worlds!!

Feb 25 05:09 PM

[i build fib...:]

the iphone has been fantastic and att's network has worked very well for me and i'm in chicago!!! Wouldn't trade it for anything and still is the coolest phone on the planet!!ON the only worldwide 3g network!!!

Feb 25 10:01 PM

[jeezocripes:]

It use to be that people that wrote articles were fair and objective. Could it be that AT&T service could be very strong in some areas of the country and that strong AT&T service coupled with the the Iphone is the 'killer combination". Most educated people know that all providers aren't the best everywhere and Verizon isn't immune to this. You could just admit that you live in New York City in a rotten apartment where Verizon installed a cell site on the roof and the RF (Radio Frequency) waves are permeating your brain and therefore preventing you from writing a reasonable, fair, and objective article comparing like subjects. In any event I am glad Verizon works well where you live because I can't get Verizon to work at my house but I can get AT&T.

Feb 26 12:08 AM

[digivision:]

i used to be a verizon subscriber. i switched to ATT
no regrets I am in NY

Feb 26 08:49 AM

[Jon T:]

The Storm is a disaster on the scale of Vista.

To try and equate its many failings with the iPhone by raising AT&T issues is grossly misleading.

Feb 26 09:11 AM

[mollytjm:]

ATT service is a matter of where you are...i'm in a philly suburb and have no problems except outside one IMAX theater where there seems to be interference of some weird kind.
the iPhone is so fast, even on 3G, and very responsive. i can't imagine dealing with anything less. And since Apple is first in innovation, they will continue to have newer and better products and they won't take forever to do it, unlike some others. And they fix their bugs...they don't just figure you should put up with it... hence, they are #1 in customer satisfaction. That means a lot to me. I like knowing there's someplace I can go to get tech help, where people actually seem pleased that i'm there, and also know what they are doing.
this last is important these days, with so many of our tech devices synced.

Feb 26 10:49 AM

[Geddy:]

There are multiple Blackberry's on VZW's service that are worldwide compatible...including the Storm. Just used it in Germany 3 weeks ago.


On Feb 25 04:48 PM waf76 wrote:

> Not sure where you live but T's service on the iPhone has been great
> for me in NYC. Most Verizon phones are not equipped to go overseas
> with so its a non starter for me. They got 2 fers going on with the
> Storms so you know the phone is junk. With a basic plan, the iphone
> data, and unlimited text messaging, its a $100 dollar monthly bill.

Feb 26 05:50 PM

[Geddy:]

And you don't work for AT&T either do you?


On Feb 25 10:01 PM i build fiber networks & h.s. equip wrote:

> the iphone has been fantastic and att's network has worked very well
> for me and i'm in chicago!!! Wouldn't trade it for anything and still
> is the coolest phone on the planet!!ON the only worldwide 3g network!!!

Feb 26 05:51 PM

[squawk:]

Thanks for the analysis, & being a "guinea pig" for the consumer who can't decide between an iPhone on AT&T or a Storm on VZW . . . or neither.

Your article saved me the time & the pain of going through what you did, though I'd never expend the effort to do so. Your analysis confirms the conclusions I arrived at without going through the road test, or perhaps more appropriately "torture track," that you did. Kudos for your martrydom.

The iPhone is an utterly impressive device. However, I, personally, could never sacrifice a network for a device. I first studied the Storm @ CES 2009, & was initially impressed, but quickly learned, when "polling" iPhone users, that the Storm had tremendous shortcomings.

Consensus in the market, immediately after the Storm's launch was lukewarm. That should tell the consumer a lot. If one followed the release of the Storm prior to its launch, it seemed pretty clear that RIMM "pushed" the device to market in face of increasing pressure to jump start sales, that the device, so revolutionary for RIMM, had a lot of problems, that likely would be worked out over time, or in other words . . . wait for the next generation of the device.

Hopefully, RIMM is working out the kinks in the present phone's design, as well as addressing other complaints consumers has expressed abuot the Storm, such as the touchpad & the like.

To me, a smart phone has to be a phone above all else. If a phone's design makes it unnecessarily cumbersome to make a call, then it's not ready for prime time. A smartphone has to have an interface that makes for EZ input of text. It seems the Storm fails miserably in these two critical areas.

Staying away from both phones . . . for now . . .seems to be the right decision. I look forward to studying the next generation Storm, and the day VZW announces a deal with AAPL to offer the iPhone to its customers.

Feb 26 11:26 PM

[pardeemp:]

is there any idea of when this update will be available?


On Feb 25 01:18 PM User 364232 wrote:

> Every single issue you mention has already been fixed in beta versions
> of the system software for the phone, and should therefore be addressed
> when Verizon releases another official update. I am not defending
> the premature release of buggy software, but the Storm is infinitely
> better running the latest leaked beta than it was out of the box...you
> should try again.

Mar 03 03:22 PM