Recommendation: RIM Next Generation BlackBerry Storm Should Have Both a Touchscreen and Thumb Keyboard

RIM plans next-gen Storm as it eyes untapped market

Although the Storm’s reception was, from what I could tell, lukewarm after its launch, RIM’s move to add a consumer market component to their strong enterprise presence makes sense. My recommendation to them (not that they listen to me 🙂 is that Storm II includes both their market defining QWERTY thumb keyboard as well as a touchscreen.

The whole touchscreen-only iPhone copycat designs are sure to wear out their welcome in the next year or two (though there is certainly a market segment for touch-only devices).