Unlocked Blackberry Storm

While the Blackberry Storm was initially only for Verizon, it is now available for all service providers. Verizon / Sprint users can activate theirs online and Tmo / AT&T just pop in your SIM card. Super easy. The Storm initially came out with a weak OS that gave it some wishy washy reviews. Seems that it may have been released a hair too early, as the next update made it pleasantly speedy. RIMs patented SurePress makes this no-trackball blackberry still navigable.

No Trackball OR Keyboard?

The Storm has no physical keyboard. When held vertically you have the option of a slim keyed qwerty, or a "2 letter per key" style similar to the pearl. When flipped horizontally you really take advantage of the Storms screen space and the keys are large enough to type comfortably. Most iPhone users prefer typing on the Storm once they get the hang of it as there's more response and it feels a bit more natural. Blackberry did a great job of combining the benefits of a touchscreen with the ergonomics and physical sensation of a click.

You better crack it out

Buying an unlocked Storm and not cracking it out should be a sin. This phone has unlimited potential. There are hundreds of free themes to choose from, and installing them is super easy. Each one is really different, and the vast majority of them are available for free on the crackberry.com forums. Some must download apps include Google Mobile, Facebook, Wikipedia, Slacker (internet radio > Pandora), and Viigo. Those new to the Blackberry world, you are going to be amazed at all the things your phone can do.

What about Storm 2?

The latest and greatest rumor is that the Storm 2 is still going to be a click screen. While the release date is still in the air, this means that Blackberry Storms will be selling really cheap on eBay as some people upgrade. If you find a really good deal (retail is $599 unlocked) try to bid when theres under 5 minutes left. This leaves less time for other people to try to outbid you. Make sure to be paying attention and keeping an eye when it gets close. If other eBayers foolishly bid the price too high for you, move on to another deal ending soon.