14 DAY TRIAL // Only a few weeks ago we learned that Verizon Wireless planned to release RIM's BlackBerry Tour sometime in July, and now the latest reports on the Web have it that the carrier will also introduce two other handsets from the Canadian maker this summer, the Storm 2 and Pearl Flip, which we must say that comes as a surprise.
According to a post on the BlackBerryOS forum, a Verizon representative has stated unofficially that the carrier is already preparing the launch of the second BlackBerry touchscreen device, the Storm 2, which should hit the shelves sometime before the end of June. In case this proves true, it would mean that the handset, until not too long ago only a rumor, should become available for purchase before Tour reaches Verizon's airwaves.
However, this might remain only in the rumor realm, as it is rather doubtful that the Canadians will rush to the market with the second Storm the same as they did with the first one, only to admit not long afterwards that the device had a lot of software glitches and that it came out of the manufacturing line with them because they needed to hit a deadline.
In related news, we learn that the wireless carrier also plans to speed the addition of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 phone to its offering, which should hit its stores in the following few months, and which is slightly different from the Pearl Flip that T-Mobile USA launched last fall. For starters, the Verizon model will come with support for the CDMA network, not GSM like T-Mobile's, while also sporting EV-DO Rev. A.
On the other hand, it seems that the device will also lack some of the functionality that can be seen on T-Mobile's version, such as Wi-Fi connectivity, yet it is expected to come with support for up to 16GB of additional storage space, while being dressed in white.