They Aren’t Really Going To Call It The BlackBerry Thunder Are They?

REV
#1. May 29th, 2008, at 11:12 AM.

Where’dya get that photo? Another mock-up?

REV
#3. May 29th, 2008, at 11:51 AM.

Yeah, I saw the watermark, but couldn’t read past the “cellfan” part.

As it stands, I don’t have a problem with the name. “Thunder” is no better or worse than “Pearl” or “Bold,” IMO. To 99% of the people I talk to, I’ll just refer to it as “my BlackBerry” anyway.

I have to wonder if RIM’s marketing department was thinking something like “We’ll call it ‘Thunder’ ’cause by leaking a touchscreen BB before WWDC, we’ll be stealing Apple’s thunder regarding the new iPhone Exchange support! Get it? Clever, right? Anyone?”

Jeff
#4. May 29th, 2008, at 12:01 PM.

Sounds more like a energy drink name to me… “Drink Blackberry Thunder!”

schagg
#5. May 29th, 2008, at 12:44 PM.

how about the ‘BlackBerry NoQWERTY’?

Omar
#6. May 29th, 2008, at 12:46 PM.

Although this mockup is better the most we’ve seen, it definitely is fake. Why would you need four buttons at the bottom if the thing has a touch screen?

REV
#7. May 29th, 2008, at 12:53 PM.

I agree the photo is probably fake, but I don’t think the four keys necessarily make it so. There are a number of current touchscreen devices that still have one or more “hard” keys.

rab
#8. May 29th, 2008, at 1:15 PM.

Maybe the could take a page from LG and call it the Blackberry Chocolate Thunder.

chris landau
#9. May 29th, 2008, at 1:50 PM.

Maybe it will have a vibratory feedback feature. Like when you touch it, it let’s your finges know what’s going on.

bluehorseshoe
#11. May 29th, 2008, at 2:58 PM.

Personally, I don’t have a problem with the name. I’m sure it’s part of some marketing campaign that they have planned. Similar to how Motorola did the RAZR Black with AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’. Perhaps RIM is going with AC/DC’s ‘Thunder’ song and showing it off on a commercial blitz (I can see it now…pretty catchy). If I had to pick a silly name for a phone, I’d say the Curve is. Yippee, the edges are curved, hence the name? Comon’. Someone in marketing can do better than that.

bluehorseshoe
#12. May 29th, 2008, at 2:59 PM.

@ rab

Or how about the Blackberry Darryl Dawkins.

bluehorseshoe
#13. May 29th, 2008, at 3:03 PM.

I can see the BB now, rotating on the TV screen, showing off its features as AC/DC plays their tune in the background, chanting ‘Thunder’. Yeah…I can see it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zvoeeq-BH4w

bunker
#14. May 29th, 2008, at 3:31 PM.

guys, i have a question. Im thinking of buying a curve 8320 (wifi). Im still buying it, even if the response is “true”. But i still want to know…

Does RIM blocks the browser from accessing websites if i dont have the ISP data plan included? Meaning i buy the phone and use the wifi at my home without data plan, will i still be able to access let’s say rimarkable.com, google.com, amazon.com ?

bluehorseshoe
#15. May 29th, 2008, at 3:36 PM.

Not on Wifi they can’t block it. You’re picking up the site from your router (or any other wireless connection for that matter which is providing the feed). RIM can’t block that. You’d be able to access various web sites. When you’re out of range of wifi, then you’d need to subscibe to the internet plan to access those same sites.

REV
#16. May 29th, 2008, at 4:49 PM.

While I am convinced that RIM/Vzw were the ones that originally leaked info on the Thunder, I think they really ought to “officially” announce something before WWDC.

As of now, I don’t think that rumors and vaporware are going to deflect much attention from the iPhone w/Exchange announcement that will likely take place on the 9th.

bing
#17. May 29th, 2008, at 9:13 PM.

blackberry thunder sounds awesome.

anukexpat
#18. May 29th, 2008, at 9:25 PM.

“Chocolate Rain” has a nice ring to it.

Terry Hughes
#19. June 3rd, 2008, at 1:38 PM.

I agree with Rob that the name is not right for the device. Hope it is a code name. Whatever the name, let them just release the thing so I can trade in my “old” 8830. Which, by the way, has changed my life.