Big Red tries to clear inventories before Storm 2 arrives

Aug 31, 2009 12:26 GMT  ·  By

The BlackBerry Storm 2 is getting really close to its launch on Verizon's airwaves, and the carrier is preparing for the release of the second Storm by lowering the price of the existing flavor. To be more precise, the original touchscreen BlackBerry device can be purchased from Verizon for only $49.99, though the signing of a 2-year contract agreement is still a requirement.

For what it's worth, the new price the BlackBerry Storm is available at with Big Red doesn't sound bad at all. Although the handset has been greatly criticized for the issues it came with to the market, which Research In Motion admitted to, some of the latest firmware updates that have been released for it fixed some of the problems, and the Storm proves to be a great device in the end.

Although the Storm 2 should land as soon as October, it seems that now is the best time to go for an original Storm on Verizon, especially given the fact that the carrier also has the device in a promotion that offers users the possibility to get another device for free upon the purchase of a BlackBerry. In other words, you can get two Storms while paying only $49.99.

It should also be mentioned that the Storm is not the only BlackBerry handset included in the promotion. As reported before, users will also have the opportunity to opt for other phones from RIM, including the 8830 World Edition, Curve 8330, Pearl Flip 8230, or 8703e, or to go for other devices as their second option.

On the other hand, the upcoming Storm 2 is set to bring forth some functionalities that the original model does not include, such as Wi-Fi connectivity, also sporting a wide range of enhancements, like an improved SurePress typing system. The device has already been spotted in Verizon's inventory, though no official details on it have emerged until now.