How to Use a BlackBerry Storm

The BlackBerry Storm, known as the BlackBerry Thunder while under development was released by Research in Motion in 2008. The Storm is a BlackBerry with a touch screen and integrated GPS functionality, in addition to a number of other features. In order to get the most out of your smartphone, you need to invest some time learning how to use a BlackBerry Storm. If the amount of information in the user manual seems overwhelming, this page can will help you get started.
It is worth mentioning that the Blackberry Storm 2 phone is set to be released October 14, 2009 by Verizon. http://www.softsailor.com/news/6949-blackberry-9550-storm-2-release-date-is-october-14-says-verizon-document.html
Tips for Using a BlackBerry Storm
1. Complete the setup wizard that when you first turn the phone on.
2. Sign up for BlackBerry Internet Service and register your e-mail address to use the Internet.
3. Move the cursor on the screen with your finger. Click on something to select it.
4. Use the SureType™ technology to type quicker.
5. Turn the phone to landscape view to enable the Qwerty Mode keyboard.

The BlackBerry Storm, known as the BlackBerry Thunder while under development was released by Research in Motion in 2008. The Storm is a BlackBerry smart cell phone with a touch screen and integrated GPS functionality, in addition to a number of other features. In order to get the most out of your smartphone, you need to invest some time learning how to use a BlackBerry Storm. If the amount of information in the user manual seems overwhelming, this page can will help you get started.
Featured Videos

The following are 2 videos about the Blackberry Storm. The first one is a video introduction to the Blackberry Storms features and capabilities. The second video explains how you can use Google Maps on your Blackberry Storm smartphone.

Comments (1)

chriswingate added a comment September 16, 2009 07:46 PM
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These videos are well made and informative.

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Tips for Using a BlackBerry Storm
1. Complete the setup wizard that when you first turn the phone on.
2. Sign up for BlackBerry Internet Service and register your e-mail address to use the Internet.
3. Move the cursor on the screen with your finger. Click on something to select it.
4. Use the SureType™ technology to type quicker.
5. Turn the phone to landscape view to enable the Qwerty Mode keyboard.
Introduction
- The BlackBerry Storm cell phone is a smartphone, meaning that it shares some features with a personal computer. The phone is configured with Internet access and word processing software. It also has several other features, such as a touch screen and GPS navigation. In the U.S., the phone is only available through Verizon, although it can be unlocked for use with other GSM services.PC Magazine:The BlackBerry Storm: Your Top 20 Questions, Answered (November 20, 2008)
Step 1: Get to Know Your BlackBerry Storm
- The BlackBerry Storm is a state of the art smartphone that is a competitor of the Apple iPhone. It comes equipped with a number of features in addition to the voice and SMS text features you'd expect with a cell phone:
1. A 3.2 megapixel digital camera, that can also record video
2. GPS technology and maps
3. A media player
4. Wireless Email
5. An organizer
6. A web browser
7. Corporate data access capabilityBlackBerry:Specifications
Step 2: Set Up the BlackBerry Storm
- Before you can use your BlackBerry Storm, you will need to set it up.
1. Insert the sim card and battery.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide The sim card may be pre-installed by your phone carrier.Flickr: Kankie
2. Fully charge the battery before using the Storm.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
3. When you turn the phone on, you'll see the Set Up Wizard on the Welcome screen, which will walk you through the process of customizing your settings and preferences.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
4. Create or add an e-mail account to your BlackBerry Storm.BlackBerry: BlackBerry Email & Text Messaging
5. For help while using the phone, simply choose the red question mark icon on the main screen.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
Step 3: Practice Using the BlackBerry Storm Touch Screen
- The BlackBerry Storm has a touch screen instead of a regular keypad.BlackBerry: SurePress Touch Screen
1. To move the cursor on the screen, move your finger around on the screen.Engadget: BlackBerry Storm review
2. To highlight something, touch the screen.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
3. To select something, simply click on it.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
4. You can view the screen on your phone either by holding the phone normally, (portrait view), or by turning the phone on the side (landscape view).CrackBerry: BlackBerry Storm Hands-On First Impression
5. When viewing the screen in the portrait view, it will only display a selection of icons. When turning the phone to landscape view, all menu options and application choices will be displayed, just like pressing the menu.CrackBerry: BlackBerry Storm Hands-On First Impression
6. When making a selection from the menu, you can just click on the menu again if the right item is selected. This makes selection through the menu quicker.CrackBerry: BlackBerry Storm Hands-On First Impression
7. If the screen cannot display everything at the same time, you have the option of scrolling down or up instead of moving the cursor with your hand. Simply tap on the arrows to scroll up and down.CrackBerry:BlackBerry Storm Hands-On First Impression
Step 4: Typing on the BlackBerry Storm
- You have several options for typing on your BlackBerry Storm.
1. When holding the phone in a portrait view you can use either a multi-tap keyboard (similar to a typical cell phone, except you tap the screen instead of using a keyboard) or SureType, which predicts words as you type them.BlackBerry: SureType
2. When holding the phone in a landscape view, you can use a virtual keyboard which is similar to a computer keyboard in its layout of the letters and keys.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
BlackBerry Storm SureType
- SureType predicts word as you type them to make typing quicker.
1. The SureType dictionary includes 35,000 words.BlackBerry: SureType
2. You can add your own words to SureType.BlackBerry: SureType
3. SureType also checks spelling as you type.BlackBerry: SureType
4. The phone also automatically adds words from e-mails you receive.BlackBerry: SureType
BlackBerry Storm Qwerty Mode
- The Qwerty Mode keyboard glows in the dark and features larger letters than the standard multi-tap keyboard.CrackBerry: BlackBerry Storm Hands-On First Impression
1. The letter you touch will start glowing in the dark.CrackBerry:BlackBerry Storm Hands-On First Impression
2. Typing on the virtual qwerty keyboard generally takes longer than a typical qwerty keyboard on a cell phone, although only minimally so.CrackBerry:BlackBerry Storm Hands-On First Impression
3. If you press a little bit longer on a letter, you will get alternative versions of it, such as international letters.CrackBerry:BlackBerry Storm Hands-On First Impression
Step 4: Making a Call With the BlackBerry Storm
- Using the BlackBerry phone as a traditional cell phone to make phone calls is easy and intuitive.
1. To make a call, type a phone number and press the green phone icon.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
2. To end a call, press the red phone icon.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
3. To mute a call, press the Mute key. Press Mute again to end the mute and begin speaking.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
4. To turn on the speakerphone, press Menu - Activate Speakerphone. Press Menu - Activate Headset to turn it off.BlackBerry: Getting Started Guide
Step 5: BlackBerry Storm Internet Access
- The BlackBerry Storm provides access to the internet through your cell phone carrier's network. It does not have Wi-Fi connectivity.NetworkWorld: BlackBerry Storm: Why no Wi-Fi? You will need to sign up for a BlackBerry Internet Package to use the internet and e-mail services.
Surfing the Internet With a Storm
- After registering an e-mail address and signing up for the BlackBerry Internet package, you can easily surf the internet and check your e-mails.
1. To access the internet if the search field is not open, press Menu - Go To and type the search term. Then press enter.BlackBerry: Browser
2. Press Menu and Back or Forward to move between web pages.BlackBerry: Browser
3. Press Menu and Stop to stop loading a web page.BlackBerry: Browser
4. Press Menu and Link Address or Image Address to find out the address of a link or image.BlackBerry: Browser
5. To play video or audio on a web page, click on the link and then choose open.BlackBerry: Browser
Step 7: Using the BlackBerry Storm Camera
- There's no need to carry a separate digital camera with you when you have a BlackBerry Storm. The integrated digital camera allows you to take photos and upload them to your computer, email them to friends and family, or share them online.Crighthand: Camera/Video/Audio recording
1. Press the camera icon.
2. The screen will become your viewfinder.
3. Zoom in or out by sliding your finger across the screen.
4. The focus indicator will turn green when autofocus is complete.
5. Push the screen to take the picture.
6. You can save pictures in the Storm's internal memory, or on a media card. The number of pictures remaining will show in the lower left corner of the screen.BlackBerry: Take a Picture
Step 8: Using BlackBerry Storm GPS
- You can use the GPS technology that is integrated in your BlackBerry Storm to get information about your current location. You can also download applications that will use the information in your GPS to provide location based information, such as driving directions.
1. The GPS menu is accessed through Advanced Options
  1. Click Advanced Options.
  2. Click GPS
  3. Press Menu
  4. Click Refresh GPS to display your current the latitude and longitude
2. You can turn off the location aiding function to save data charges.BlackBerry: GPS Technology
Conclusion
- To start using your new BlackBerry Storm, first set it up and learn how to use the touch screen and how to type. You can then start to learn the specific features the phone has to offer. The BlackBerry Storm has a variety of features, including some not covered on this page. The BlackBerry Storm instruction manual covers all the Storm's features in detail if you require more information.BlackBerry: User Guide
Resources for How To Use a BlackBerry Storm

Blackberry Storm help
Blackberry Connection Newsletter
How to use a Blackberry Storm from eHow
How to use a Blackberry Storm from Blackberry Cool
Using your Blackberry Storm as a level or ruler from Blackberry Cool
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