BlackBerry Storm 9500

The Evolution of the BlackBerry Storm 9500 - A Discontinued Classic

In 2008, technology enthusiasts were eagerly awaiting the launch of the BlackBerry Storm 9500. It was positioned as a potential competitor to the iPhone, with BlackBerry claiming it to be their most advanced and innovative smartphone yet. However, despite high expectations, the device ultimately failed to live up to its hype and was eventually discontinued. Let's take a closer look at the BlackBerry Storm 9500 and its journey in the ever-changing world of technology.

Despite its short lifespan, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 was a pioneer in many ways. It was the first BlackBerry device to feature a touchscreen display instead of the traditional QWERTY keyboard that the brand was known for. This was a bold move by BlackBerry, as it deviated from its signature design that had made it a household name.

The device was officially announced in September 2008 and was released in November of the same year. However, its journey was cut short when it was discontinued shortly after in 2010. While the BlackBerry Storm 9500 may have been considered a commercial failure, it was still ahead of its time in many ways.

One of the standout features of the BlackBerry Storm 9500 was its operating system. It ran on BlackBerry OS, which at the time was a highly acclaimed platform known for its advanced security measures. The device was powered by a Qualcomm MSM7600 chipset and a 528 MHz ARM 11 CPU, along with an Adreno 130 GPU. These specifications were comparable to other high-end devices of its time.

In terms of memory, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 had a dedicated microSDHC slot that could accommodate up to 8GB of additional storage. The internal memory was also impressive, with 1GB of storage and 128MB of RAM. While this may seem minimal by today's standards, it was considered ample space for an average smartphone user in 2008.

The device featured a 3.25-inch TFT display with a resolution of 360 x 480 pixels. It supported 65K colors and had a screen-to-body ratio of about 47%. While this was not the most impressive display at the time, it still offered decent visuals and a pixel density of approximately 185 pixels-per-inch.

The BlackBerry Storm 9500 had a solid build with dimensions of 112.5 x 62.2 x 14 mm and a weight of 155g. It featured a mini-SIM slot and was available in classic black color. One of the major downfalls of this device was its lack of a front-facing camera for selfies, which were becoming increasingly popular at the time.

The main camera of the BlackBerry Storm 9500 was a 3.15 MP shooter with autofocus and LED flash. While this may seem basic by today's standards, it was considered a decent camera for its time. The device also had video recording capabilities of up to 320p, which may seem low now but was considered standard at the time.

In terms of connectivity, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 supported 2G and 3G networks, with HSPA speeds of 7.2/0.384 Mbps. It also had Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support, GPS and A-GPS for navigation, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. However, it did not have WLAN or a radio.

One of the standout features of the BlackBerry Storm 9500 was its sensors. It had an accelerometer, which was a rare feature at the time, allowing users to control the device by tilting it. The device also had a built-in HTML browser and supported document editing for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files. It also had a media player for MP3/WMA/eAAC+ and MP4/H.264/WMV files, making it a decent option for multimedia consumption.

The BlackBerry Storm 9500 also had an impressive battery life, with a removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery. It had a standby time of up to 360 hours and a talk time of up to 5.5 hours.

Despite its innovative features, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 was never able to compete with the iPhone or other popular devices of its time. Its discontinuation was a major setback for BlackBerry, and many critics attributed it to the lack of an efficient touchscreen implementation. However, the device is still revered by many as a classic and a symbol of BlackBerry's attempt at modernizing their brand.

In conclusion, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 may have been a short-lived device, but it was a pioneer in many ways. It took risks and introduced new features that were ahead of its time, making it a standout device in the world of smartphones. While it may have been discontinued, it will always be remembered as a classic that paved the way for future BlackBerry devices.

Latest BlackBerry Storm 9500 Specs and Prices

LAUNCH

• Announced:  2008, September. Released 2008, November
• Status:  Discontinued

PLATFORM

• Operating System:  BlackBerry OS
• Chipset:  Qualcomm MSM7600
• CPU:  528 MHz ARM 11
• GPU:  Adreno 130

MEMORY

• Card slot:  microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
• Internal:  1GB 128MB RAM

DISPLAY

• Type:  TFT, 65K colors
• Size:  3.25 inches, 32.7 cm2 (~46.7% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution:  360 x 480 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~185 ppi density)

BODY

• Dimensions:  112.5 x 62.2 x 14 mm (4.43 x 2.45 x 0.55 in)
• Weight:  155 g (5.47 oz)
• SIM:  Mini-SIM

MAIN CAMERA

• Single:  3.15 MP, AF
• Features:  LED flash
• Video:  320p

SELFIE CAMERA

• -:  No

BATTERY

• Type:  Removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery
• Stand by:  Up to 360 h
• Talk time:  Up to 5 h 30 min

CELLPHONE NETWORK

• Technology:  GSM / HSPA
• 2G bands:  GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• 3G bands:  HSDPA 2100
• Speed:  HSPA 7.2/0.384 Mbps

SOUND

• Loudspeaker :  Yes
• 3.5mm jack :  Yes

COMMUNICATIONS

• WLAN:  No
• Bluetooth:  2.0, A2DP
• Positioning:  GPS, A-GPS
• Radio:  No
• USB:  microUSB 2.0

FEATURES

• Sensors:  Accelerometer
• Browser:  HTML - BlackBerry maps Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) MP3/WMA/eAAC+ player MP4/H.264/WMV player Organizer Voice dial/memo

MISCELLANEOUS

• Colors:  Black
• SAR:  0.57 W/kg (head) & & 0.50 W/kg (body) & &
• SAR EU:  0.47 W/kg (head) & & 0.27 W/kg (body) & &
• Price:  About 80 EUR

Disclaimer: Specifications shown may be different from the actual product. We cannot guarantee that the information provided on this page is 100% correct. This content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice.