Technology: BlackBerry unveils a touch-screen model

The inauguration of BlackBerry in 1999 took the world market by storm. In efforts to further strengthen the market status, BlackBerry have now unveiled their first smart-phone with a touch-screen. The new touch-screen BlackBerry by Research in Motion Ltd (RIM), makers of Blackberry, is believed to be the response to the popular Apple iPhone. The ‘Storm’ resembles the iPhone but its colour touch-screen differs in that it is clickable known as a Click-Through; it slightly depresses when touched like a typewriter key. It pushes the screen down as you would any other tactile button. Also known as BlackBerry Thunder, the Storm possesses a touch-sensitive display. The touch-sensitive display is unlike any other touch-screen smartphone on the market, including the Apple iPhone. Just like any other first BlackBerry editions, the phone has dual-mode functionality and an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) for network signal receiving alongside BlackBerry Maps. This means the phone switches automatically between networks to offer seamless international roaming, all while keeping the same phone number. Users navigate on the touch-screen by using their finger like a cursor, scrolling, highlighting, panning and zooming and clicking on selections. It also has a built-in system that allows it to automatically rotate the screen, depending on whether the phone is held vertically or horizontally. It’s equipped with a headphone jack, has four shortcut keys that include the ‘talk’ and ‘end’, ‘back’ and ‘menu’. Other features of the Storm include wireless email through high-speed 3G mobile broadband networks, a Web browser which allows audio and video streaming and SMS among others. Other wireless options include Bluetooth, a media player, a still and video camera. The Smartphone is seen by many industry analysts as RIM’s response to the iPhone and an attempt to increase the popularity of the Blackberry beyond businessmen addicted to its email capabilities. However, the phone is facing increasing competition from other touch-screen phones like the iPhone and others. Therefore, as you await the launch of the BlackBerry compatible network system by local telecommunication providers, the Storm can be substituted by other touch-screen phone. Contact: Eddiemukayaa@yahoo.com