BlackBerry Thunder, The Full Touchscreen BlackBerry?

News has surfaced that the previously leaked codename BlackBerry Storm is actually called the BlackBerry Thunder and is scheduled to be launched Q3 this year.

This is supposed to be the full touchscreen BlackBerry, with no sliding keypad, just 4 physical keys (okay, so maybe not full touchscreen). The physical keys would be the send key, end key, BlackBerry menu key, and the back key.

In an interesting twist, it’s reported to launch as a worldwide lifetime exclusive on Verizon and Vodafone. The unit is speculated to be a hybrid device with CDMA EV-DO Rev. C. Verizon and Vodafone will have the same unit, which is under the model number BlackBerry 9500. It’s been said that Verizon will have a sales quota for the device, and if they don’t hit it, the exclusivity will be dissolved.