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BlackBerry launches new model
Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM), makers of the BlackBerry, is taking on Apple Inc. with a touch-screen phone that puts a new twist on the technology.
- AP
- Published: 00:30 October 9, 2008
- Research in Motion Ltd.'s new touch-screen phone, the Storm. With the new model announced on Wednesday, RIM is for the first time giving up the keypad in favour of a large screen, just like that on Apple's iPhone.
- Image Credit: AP
New York: Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM), makers of the BlackBerry, is taking on Apple Inc. with a touch-screen phone that puts a new twist on the technology.
RIM is known for its e-mail-oriented phones with large keypads. With the new model announced on Wednesday, the Storm, RIM is for the first time giving up the physical keypad in favour of a large screen, just like that on Apple's iPhone.
But RIM has listened to users who find the iPhone's glass screen awkward to type on because its virtual buttons provide no tactile feedback. The Storm's whole screen is backed by springs, and when pressed, it gives under the finger.
The long-rumoured Storm will be available from Verizon Wireless in the US and from Vodafone Group overseas before the holidays, the companies said. No price has been disclosed yet.
In an unusual twist, the phone will work both on Verizon Wireless' network and on Vodafone's, even though they use incompatible technologies.
International roaming
Like a few other Verizon Wireless handsets before it, the Storm will be equipped with radios to handle both networks, making international roaming a possibility. The iPhone, carried by AT&T Inc. in the US, can already roam internationally.
The addition of a touch-screen phone to the BlackBerry lineup, the mainstay of e-mail-addicted executives and managers, is a testament to the effect of the iPhone. RIM's share of the US smart-phone market has stayed above 50 per cent, but the iPhone has clearly helped expand that market.
Over the last year, technology buyers at large corporations have found their employees demanding a touch-screen phone, said Mike Lanman, chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless.
Movie clips
"Everybody eventually leaves work ... and becomes a person," Lanman said.
The iPhone's facility with Web browsing and movie playing are big reasons for its appeal. The Storm will initially lack an equivalent of Apple's iTunes movie store, though shorter clips will be available through Verizon Wireless' VCast service.
As a Web browser, the Storm more closely emulates the desktop experience than the iPhone does. That's because the screen can distinguish between light touches and firm presses. A light touch can move around a cursor, while a firm press activates a link, much like moving a mouse cursor has a different effect from clicking a mouse button, said Mike Lazaridis, RIM's co-chief executive.
Verizon Wireless is the last of the four national US brands to unveil a flagship touch-screen model.
AT&T has the iPhone, Sprint Nextel Corp. sells the Samsung Instinct, and T-Mobile USA just announced the G1, the first phone to run Google Inc.'s software.
Verizon Wireless does have other touch-screen phones in its lineup, but none that it has promoted with as much vigour as other carriers have.
Do you think that the new model would be better than iphone and HTC?
Your comments
It seriously all depends when the actual phone is available. Pictures can always be deceiving just like a picture of a sandwich on some menu!
I personally never buy a phone without reading its reviews.
Furqan
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: October 09, 2008, 12:13
Yes I do think this is could be better than IPhone and HTC.
Ashwin
Muscat,Oman
Posted: October 09, 2008, 11:04
Seems to be better than HTC in both the hardware and software as the measure to judge a handheld device. Blackberry software has been a successful operating system over the iPhone since it is launched and this still can be a boon over iPhone but it might not be able to thrash the sleek and elegant look of iPhone.
Rafi
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: October 09, 2008, 08:02
I am not comfortable with the size of blackberry, it is too broad, makes a big show when I have to carry it around
Shibu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 09, 2008, 07:41
With large screen on the Berries and Nokia 5800, I don't see the point of the Ibrick any more. At least those two vendors are far superior in conectivity and feature sets.
Mike
San Jose,US
Posted: October 09, 2008, 02:13
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