RIM is pushing hard to knock Apple and the iPhone off its pedestal as the most sought-after smartphone in the US. But, if it wants its iPhone-fighting BlackBerry Storm to unseat the iPhone as the gotta-have touchscreen smartphone on the market, RIM is going to need something more than the awkward first-generation SurePress click-screen technology. The BlackBerry Storm 2 has already been rumored to be coming down RIM’s product pipeline with integrated WiFi, and now we’re getting confirmation that the Storm 2 will push to increase BlackBerry adoption and awareness in the consumer smartphone market. RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie has confirmed that RIM is indeed working on a second-generation BlackBerry Storm!
Balsillie confirmed that Storm sales and adoption have been strong. The BlackBerry Storm was recently announced as the No. 3 most popular smartphone in the US in the first quarter of 2009, but RIM still has a lot of work to do on the Storm. The awkward SurePress click-screen is a major point of contention among many Storm users, and the lack of integrated WiFi is almost a joke for a high-end smartphone. But, with RIM preparing “next-generation devices with [touchscreens],” there’s hope yet for a new BlackBerry Storm 2 hitting market with a new touchscreen and packed with features befitting a high-end handset.
There’s talk of the new BlackBerry Storm 2 launching in September of 2009, but don’t count on it. Here’s to hoping for the second-generation TruePress touchscreen and integrated WiFi in the upcoming Storm 2! Perhaps even a slide-out keyboard?
[Via: eWeek]