'Revolutionary Touchscreen Technology'

The Storm's calling card is what the companies call its "revolutionary touchscreen technology." The device is intended to enhance user interaction and typing with the world's first "clickable" touchscreen. To make a selection, the user slightly pushes down the screen in an action described by RIM as being "much like a physical keyboard." The screen also supports single-touch, multi-touch and gesture interaction.

Mike Lazaridis, RIM president and co-CEO, said the new design "solves the long-standing problem associated with typing on traditional touchscreens," offering a "large and vibrant screen with a truly tactile touch interface."

In the U.S., the Storm supports Verizon Wireless' EV-DO Rev A network , and Vodafone's 3G network in Europe and other countries.

Integrating Navigation and Confirmation

The BlackBerry Storm features a built-in accelerometer, so the screen can automatically switch between landscape and portrait orientation. Double-tapping allows users to zoom in, and sliding fingers result in a scroll or pan.

An enhanced browser facilitates streaming audio and video, and built-in RSS support. There's also a 3.2-megapixel camera with variable zoom, a built-in GPS for location-based applications, 1GB of onboard memory, a microSD/SDHD memory-card slot for up to 16GB of additional storage , and a media player for movies, music and slides.

Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said the clickable screen is an attempt by RIM to integrate navigation and confirmation. "On a device like an Apple iPhone or HTC Touch," he said, "you could accidentally select something just by putting your finger on it," but the Storm's approach means you have to physically click it to select.

He said the success of such an approach will depend on user experience, which he can't yet judge because he hasn't had an opportunity to try out the Storm. A big test of its usefulness, Greengart added, will be if it significantly improves the typing experience.

Overall, he said, when you look at the features on the new device, "this is an exciting product, especially when you see it's being sold through Verizon Wireless." Up until this point, Greengart said, the carrier's touchscreen smartphone lineup has been "pretty weak."

This strengthens Verizon Wireless' hand going into the holiday season, he said, although he added that the appeal of the Storm could be enhanced -- or diminished -- by the pricing, which has not yet been announced.