Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion Ltd. have high hopes for the BlackBerry Storm, which they spent nearly two years developing as their big response to Apple Inc.'s iPhone.

But despite a marketing campaign that cost more than $100 million, the smart phone has gotten off to a bumpy start. Some early buyers have complained about technical bugs with RIM's first touch screen BlackBerry, although others say most new gadgets have problems that need to be ironed out.

When...