Absorb What's Useful

Smartphones have become an increasingly popular mobile device in the past 5 years.  With the emergence of various brands manufacturing cell phones that can do more than just accept emails, and make phone calls.  They are the continuous form of communication in various media outlets.  Mobile telephones have swept the professional world and the 44th President of the United States by “storm”.  

The BlackBerry Storm was released on November 14, 2008   revealing wireless features like CDMA with EV-DO Rev. A data and quad-band GSM with EDGE data access speed making the Storm the talk amongst tech geeks.  Installing these Evolution Data only wireless transmissions, the BlackBerry Storm can pick up broadband Internet access providing the  IP address up to 1.8 Mbit/s which can support any application on its network.  The Storm is available in Asia, Brazil and Europe on HSDPA frequency bands and GSM wireless in North America.  Since AT & T, Tmobile and Fido do not operate on the same 3G frequency bands as the rest of the world, BlackBerry Storm wireless data speed are only possible once the local GSM networks support it.  As a person who travels internationally often I believe that phones should be accessible in foreign countries without locking constraints.  Even with locked phones the Storm can be unlocked and used with any GSM service provider.

In the book Convergence Culture, Henry Jenkins wrote that “consumers will be more powerful….but only if they recognize and use that power as both consumers and citizens, as full participants in our culture”.  This culture is the the growing combination of social networks, email accounts, video uploads, microblogging, downloadable music, and photo sharing that is becoming more and more common in modern day society.  As more web 2.0 start ups are rising everyday more business models are changing as well.      The increase of expectations consumers have for their products are forcing manufactures to design tangible products that will be a one stop shop for all the persons mobile needs.  Developers Research in Motion (RIM) decided to enter  the touchscreen mobile market with a 9500 series BlackBerry without a physical keyboard.  RIM patented the technology to allow the touchscreen to react like a button using SurePress.      Skillfully listening to the complaints of the Apple iPhone feedbacks and how it’s touchscreen does not stop random “clicking” while in pockets or using by fingers.  Since BlackBerry makers wanted to continue the longs standing loyalty of its users the new model carried many new features that allowed the user to merge their online networks onto their mobile networks.  Enabling both the PC and mobile phone to be combined into one technology accessible anywhere in the world.  With small, light and at the “touch” of your fingertips smartphones like the Storm people are instantly seduced to update their Facebook status or micro blog on Twitter using various applications that give many buyers reason to purchase the phone.  

Storm vs. iPhone vs. G1

According to Gizmodo gadget blog article “BlackBerry Storm is Pricier to Build Than iPhone 3G” the Storm’s CDMA network chip cost $203 dollars to build compared to the $233 that the iPhone 3G costs.  The Storm marketed itself as a reliable and professional product compared to the iPhone with its futuristic design integrating ipod emotions and Apple branding.  Since the creation of the iPhone revolutionized the touchscreen feature on cell phones,  eager technology enthusiast where waiting for the next phone that would compete with Apple Inc. confidently.  

The BlackBerry brand has even been favored by President Obama who lobbied to keep his secure BlackBerry in the White House.  The iPhone was revealed by Steve Jobs on June 29, 2007 and since introduced across the world ever since.  The iPhone was the result of an AT& T collaboration to spend thirty months and $150 million dollars on developing a multi touch screen camera phone.  The phone became a instant top sellers with hundreds of Apple followers and technology geeks waiting in hour long lines to purchase their first iPhone and new ipod music player.  The iPhone opened another door for multi tasking, multi-media users with the ability to download applications that will allow each person to share pictures, update calendars, or receive alerts.  The BlackBerry  has been the same tool used by business professionals who want to use various applications for leisure and productively.

In order for RIM to truly succeed with the BlackBerry Storm they must improve a few rookie mistakes that will make the next model even more productive and functional.  The flat 3 inch touch sensitive screen gives the Storm a excellent grade in design but the software is a little too “soft”.  Reviewers wrote that the web browser could not support complex webpages inheriting issues with sluggish performances and refusal to switch orientation.  Without Verizon’s wireless network many Storm users lacked a decent amount of Wi-Fi support.  Reseller News writer David Haskin noted that BlackBerry’s major business features, such as enterprise e-mail integration and Microsoft Office document editing capabilities were on par with BlackBerry’s previous offerings, noting that these features would likely make the Storm more popular with the business crowd .

Many of reviewers felt that  most of the problems (lag, accelerometer accuracy, etc.) could potentially be fixed by future software updates since this is the first release by RIM.  Unlike the T-Mobile G1 phone by Google the Storm does not have the Android market mobile platform.  Released on October 22, 2008 the G1 phone was a introduction by the Open Handset Alliance so that various business firms could work together for open standards on mobile devices.  Established on November 5, 2007 Google and 34 members including application developers, mobile carriers, and mobile handset makers formed the OHA.  The alliance was rejected by Nokia, AT& T and Verizon Wireless although Verizon has indicated that it may soon join the Open Handset Alliance.  The major software for the alliance is Android which is an open source license that competes directly with other mobile outlets like Apple Inc., Microsoft, Nokia, Palm and RIM.

Conclusion 

With so many applications releasing everyday the smart phones of today are becoming more and more sophisticated providing the user with many different ways to organize and communicate.  The BlackBerry Storm arises to the occasion and places itself within the touchscreen market only to release too soon before creating a better functionality phone rather than a reaction to the iPhone phenomenon.  The most prominent feature on  the BlackBerry Storm is the “haptic feedback” technology used on the touchscreen allowing the user the sense of touch by applying force, vibrations or motions to assist in virtual objects.  

As society begins to converge itself with more gadgets and savvy technology experiences I believe that we have yet to reach the full capacity of what can happen in the near future.  Owning a cell phone 25 yeas ago was a so huge that you had to leave the phone in the car but over the years digital components became miniature and the development of smaller, lighter batteries helped market the cell phone as a carrying device.

The Storm has many great functions and it will continue to serve the business community while gaining new customers in the near future.  The “click” sound comes from holding the touchscreen for a long period of time, but clearly they will have to develop more practical improvements like a long lasting battery life in order to really form a cult following like the iPhone.

Using BlackBerry’s in places like Africa and Asia will not be an issue but how can mobile phone users in those countries join the rest of the world and have them available at affordable prices to bridge the digital gap between developing and developed nations.  Only time will tell when we will see the next big tin in mobile communications and how it affects our daily lives and working environments.  

References

Jenkins, Henry. (2008)Convergence Culture. New York. New York University Press

Topolsky, Joshua. (November 19, 2008) Black Berry Storm Review. www.engadget.com

Ziegler, Chris. (September 23, 2008) Verizon tells us about the BlackBerry Storm “wow factors” www.engadgetsmobile.com