BlackBerry Storm blows in this autumn

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 8 Oct 2008 at 08:37

Research In Motion will roll out a touchscreen model of its BlackBerry smartphone later this autumn, thrusting it into direct competition with Apple's iPhone.

RIM says the BlackBerry Storm will be available exclusively to Vodafone users in the UK.

RIM's launch of a touchscreen BlackBerry isn't a surprise. Late last month, RIM's US network partner, Verizon Wireless, sent out a promotional email that heralded its arrival.

The Storm's screen depresses slightly when it is pressed, RIM says, adding users will feel a soft click as the screen is released. "This clickable interface is like an engineering marvel," claims RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie. "It is revolutionary."

Analysts belieive that as RIM continues to push into the broader consumer market, beyond the professionals that have been its mainstay, it will see increased competition from other handset makers. RIM has consistently brushed off such concerns and its subscriber growth has backed up its confidence.

The Storm comes preloaded with software for email and managing documents, as well as a media player for music, movies and photos. It's also equipped with a 3.2 megapixel camera.

RIM hasn't announced a specific release date for the Storm, nor details on pricing.

The Storm's launch comes shortly after RIM released a flip-phone version of the BlackBerry to capture more of the retail market.