UK launch date 15 Oct on Vodafone
 

Details here BlackBerry touch screen launched to take on the Apple iPhone - Telegraph

That does not say anything about the 15th. It says Wednesday which if talking about todays announcement.

Entered a competition on the Vodafone website so maybe i might win one! If not i'll wait for the unlocked sim free variants to hit the market...

I'm was never Vodafone inclined and, from what i've heard, shall remain that way...

Cracking phone - can't wait to have a wee play with it!

The reviews seem positive, but 155 grams - that'll blow a hole in my pocket!

I know we all have our carrier preferences btw, but Voda have hardly put a foot wrong in the 23 years I've been a customer. And they do seem to "get" the BB world better than most. Just my 0.2.

Well let's just hope that i won't be let down when i get a shot of this thing at a Vodafon store - had to laugh at the guy i asked about the Storm release: -

Me: Hi there, you got any news on the BB Storm or even got them coming in by a certain date?
Vodafone Man: Where did you hear that then?
Me: Well i've seen the Vodafone site and a couple of others saying it'll be released soon or even specifying a date, i cant recall which... I just thought you "MIGHT" have a demo unit kicking about
Vodafone Man: All i know is there are new "devices" coming out soon and i can't say any more than that otherwise i could be sacked.
Me: (looks confused and baffled) Ehh, OK mate! Catch!

So that was the shortest conversation i have ever had with a sales rep ever - and the Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U didnt even know it existed! I;d have had better luck asking where Osama's been hiding! LoL Guarding the crown jewels 'n' all...

Any other UK folks gonna have a swatch at this (possible) beauty?

Yup, I am an existing Vodafone customer (using a Nokia not a BB) and I'm going to try and get my hands on a Storm as soon as they are released.

Spoke to Vodafone UK business customer service yesterday and they didn't have them on the system so could not give me a price, the person I spoke to was aware of the Storm though and said to call again next week when they would hopefully be able to quote for packages and upgrades.

Storm looks perfect for me, the lack of WiFi is a bummer but I think with an unlimited Voda data package I will be able to get over it. IMHO the lack of WiFi is clearly in part due to the influence of the operators/carriers. If the Euro version (the 9500) does not have all the radio the US (9530) version has, there would have been room to add WiFi to the Euro version I'm sure. It's all about protecting revenue by getting people to buy data packages.