14 DAY TRIAL // BlackBerry Storm2 9550, the second touchscreen-enabled mobile phone delivered to the market by Canadian handset maker Research In Motion, is already available for purchase in the United States on the airwaves of Verizon Wireless. Moreover, it comes with brand new features and improvements over the previous Storm, such as Wi-Fi connectivity, as well as a pre-loaded Bing application.
The presence of this Bing application on RIM's BlackBerry Storm2 is the result of a previously inked deal between Verizon Wireless and Microsoft, according to which Bing, the search engine delivered by the Redmond-based software giant, will become the default search solution on Verizon's handsets. Big Red seems committed to the deal, and it has included the app not only on Windows Mobile-powered phones, but also on BlackBerry ones, and even on those powered by Google's Android operating system.
According to phone Arena, the second Storm handset is intended to sport about the same software as the original touchscreen device, which determined Verizon to deliver the Bing application to older Storms too. What it offers users includes access to the Bing search engine, as well as quick access to news from Sports, Business, and Technology.
In addition, it can provide directions to one location or another, making use of the handset's GPS receiver, while users can also reverse directions in order to get back to the original point with a single click. Other features of the app include a link towards a list with the latest movies and where they run, as well as the possibility to purchase tickets at specific theaters.
Not too long ago, Microsoft announced that Bing for mobile had just been enhanced with a series of new features, and that touchscreen handset owners could benefit from an optimized solution for their devices. The default mobile search engine has been improved as well, one of the enhancements being aimed at NFL fans, who will be able to enjoy fast access to stats and game results.