Any
Storm hopeful in the colonies who's taken a gander at
Vodafone's pricing scheme this week is probably strongly considering packing a couple duffel bags with the bare essentials they need to survive and moving to the UK to strike out on a new life -- a life filled with cheap Storms. Not so fast, though -- is it conceivable to think that Verizon could go the same route? At first glance, you might think that the Storm's cachet as RIM's flashiest, highest-end device to date would be enough to lure in customers by the droves at any price, but with the enormous price pressure placed on the industry by a $199
iPhone 3G in a heavily-overlapping target demo, rumor has it that Big Red's looking at a severe subsidy to meet or beat its crosstown rival. Analysts are thinking (wishfully, we suspect) that a $99 Storm isn't entirely out of the question if Verizon wants to sell an insane number of 'em through the holidays, but just how long would it take to recoup that kind of loss?
posted Oct 31st 2008 4:30PM
If this thing drops at this price, it may actually get me to sign a two year (which I never do).
But, let's face it. It's not going to drop at $99. I'll be amazed if it's even 199.
I've thought for a long time that Verizon is going to end up subsidizing this one heavily. Just look at their recent phones when the voyager came out it wasn't heavily subsidized but as iPhone prices when down, so did voyager prices. Same with every touch screen phone that verizon has released since, they've all met or beat iPhone prices. Apparently none of those subsidies killed their profit.
The storm is Verizon's first "real" "iPhone killer". Yes, every touchscreen that ever comes out is the next great "iPhone killer" but between this and the G-1 you're actually getting phones that might live up to the title. Verizon wants this to hit in a big way. $99 is better then I ever hoped for but I don't see it outside of the realm of posibility. I'm sure its going to be cheaper then $199.
$99 for the Storm...well, that's the sort of stuff that geek dreams are made of. Consider the Bold is dropping at $200 higher on AT&T...and the base iPhone is $100 higher on AT&T.
Without a strong response from ALL the providers, big Red could gain a ton of churn from the other carriers with such a move.
Can we blame Engadget if it doesn't drop at $99?
I would think price would be more around $120 to $150. I would think the Storm would be really hard for people to pass up if it was only $99. The thing though is Verizon's plans are all higher than their competitors. I will say I would of already bought a G1 if T-mobile's network was what Verizon's network is here in DC.
Any one know when this phone is actually going to come out?
Verizon's prices arent any more expensive then at&ts.
little more then sprint and tmobile but you get a better network to use all the toys on.
I doubt it, although it would be very nice. $99 is a bit too low, and IMO would give it a cheapened image. Pricing it significantly lower than the iPhone will make people think it's vastly inferior to it. I'll be surprised if it's lower than $199. That's still a very reasonable price.
Verizon isn't one to sell phones at a loss.
Plus, if the phone is a bust, they'd probably lose a good sum of money on the ones sold.
i say 299, and i think thats too cheap
Based off of my non-expert opinion I think they will price the Storm at $249.99 after mail in rebate. I agree with hoagie that $99 would make the Storm seem like an inferior product to all those non-phone savy people and pricing it between $200-$300 would make it seem more valuable
I'd rather pay up the youknowwhat for the phone then for any more monthly fees they could come up with
But yeah, Verizon, at least with my experiences, loves to get any penny they can off you from the phone price, I don't think it's likely...
oh i hope it cheaper then a bold then maybe i actually switch but mayb the bold will come down in price. who knows but it exciting after all we r in a bad economy a lot of people can't afford new phone so they need to make it competive but cheaper. now this is the kind of price wars cell phone company should be having who cheaper not how much can we raise the price.
Wow.... do people still believe that Verizon is more expensive than AT&T? Their prices are EXACTLY the same. I honestly don't know where you people get your information. I should know, I've worked for both companies.
If you price out the monthly plans of an existing verizon blackberry, like the curve for all the options like gps, and the same number of minutes, AT&T is about 25 dollars cheaper with their iphone plans. The other smart phone plans are the same.
If Verizon is going to charge for visual voicemail and gps on the storm, and the pricing is the same as other blackberries. Then AT&T is going to be cheaper for an iphone than it is to get the storm on verizon.
Ive seen the promotional materials with the pricing for this phone on it.
The price is going to knock your socks off. Suffice to say, its probably the cheapest
Blackberry pricing ever. VZW is gonna have a hard time keeping them in stock at that price.
But enough teasing. Its going to be $79.99 after $50 rebate.
you sure? Verizon blackberries all have $70.00 rebates right now.
thats a lie, good try though
Are you sure you were seeing the right promotional materials Mr. Henry? Honestly I just can't believe VZW could do such a thing but I must say you have got me a little excited. Could you tell us when we can expect the storm to come out?
here ya go fellas.
http://flickcabin.com/pfiles/11893/photo.jpg
^ Dead link... BTW, Best Buy Mobile is taking preorders with a $50 Deposit... Get it while its hot... I think they are shipping on Nov 17
I actually believe VZW would release it at a cheap price. If you factor in that it has no wifi (meaning you need Verizon's network to do anything with it), that people will be stuck on a data plan with a 2 year contract, and that RIM is working on the Blackberry version of the iPhone App Store, Verizon will be laughing all the way to the bank.
You can bet its atleast going to match 199.99 like the iPhone, if not, Verizon (who I work for) will price it 249.99 with 70.00 Mail In to put it just under the cost of an iPhone. So I wouldnt place any bets on the 99.99. Especially considering Canadian and possibly Europian contracts can exceed 2 years and offer a 3, like Telus Mobile in Canada.
how much does this go for?
Why bother? The whole point of a Blackberry is it's emailing capabilities. While they shouldn't change in regards to the software, typing on a virtual keyboard SUCKS! Ask iPhone users. This is going to be a bust people.
in your mouth
you know, you're right!!! the Voyager isn't selling, the Dare isn't selling, the iPhone isn't selling, the Touch isn't selling... the list goes on. yeah... virtual keyboards REALLY suck and nobody will ever buy a phone that features it. EVER!
*note: yes, I realize the Voyager still has the physical keyboard, but you can still use the touchscreen for qwerty.
Yes, while a virtual keyboard is not the best way to go where you can't see what letter u entered until it appears on the screen, the Storm would require to push in the letter that you selected...so it's a step up in the virtual keyboard world.
and tra la la, I don't know what you're talking about, but while I'm a Verizon user, half the people I know all have at&t and they all have iPhones and all love it.
I really want to get this phone, but my two year contract doesnt end until a whole nother year from now... Is there a way I could buy just the phone at the $200 price (as if i were getting a two-year contract with it) and not pay the approximatly $500 I would have to pay for the Month-to-Month? if anyone was any details or brief information please do tell, and help me out.
Thank you, I would highly appreciate it
-Beth McClain