BlackBerry Storm Pre-Orders at Best Buy

Word on the street from several sources is that starting today Best Buy stores will be taking pre-orders on RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Storm. All it'll cost you is a $50 refundable deposit.

It's too bad Circuit City couldn't get one of these sorts of deals; it would probably have given them a quick influx of cash from the deposits. Still, they have enough trouble just getting Sony to deliver stuff; how would they have fared with the newest "iPhone-Killer?"

And yes, this is the newest hot phone, the latest to be called a major threat to the iPhone. The Storm does have a touch screen, but I keep telling people, despite what carriers seem to think, a touch screen does not make an iPhone.

Still this is RIM, not a Windows Mobile device, so it's bound to be solid. And it already comes with something the iPhone doesn't, at least without an add-on app: landscape mode typing in emails / SMS.

According to the leaked email, the customer pays $50, the Best Buy employees scans the pre-sale flier, which will ensure (they say!) enough inventory on the launch date. The customer has to make an appointment to come in and get his device. Of course, the bad thing is: there's still no release date or pricing. That means: no appointments can be made yet.

Customers who purchase a pre-sell prior to the release date will not be able to set their appointment yet. Best Buy Mobile employees will need to contact customers at a later date with the information on the pre-sell form copy to set the appointment with these customers.

Let's see how efficient these guys are at calling customers back ... the good thing is, if you decide the final price is too much, you can get your $50 back. Click the above image to see the flier, via BGR.