Vodafone unveils RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9520 smartphone with improved touchscreen response

BlackBerry Storm2 9520

BlackBerry Storm2 9520

Vodafone and Research In Motion have unveiled the BlackBerry Storm2 9520, a touchscreen smartphone device that builds on the success of the first iteration Storm 9500. The new Storm2 is a thinner and sleeker device with quad-band GSM support and high-speed 3G and WiFi data connectivity. The phone includes a 1400mAh battery for extended use.

RIM's Storm2 features improved SurePress technology, which gives a tactile response when pressing on the phone's 3.25-inch 360 x 480 resolution capacitive touchscreen^(INFO) display. The technology responds equally to pressure placed on the screen. Typing-speed response has also been enhanced. An updated version of BlackBerry OS 5 includes BlackBerry App World, too, so users can download new applications for the smartphone device.

Users can snap photos and shoot video with a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera. After syncing their music to the device from iTunes using BlackBerry Media Sync, users can enjoy their music with standard headphones that utilize a 3.5mm stereo headset jack or Bluetooth for use with stereo headphones. Though the Storm2 carries 2GB of internal memory, users can save media to the phone's microSD card slot, as well. GPS is also built-in for navigation duties.

The BlackBerry Storm2 9520 will be available from Vodafone on October 26 for free with a two-year contract and a 35 GBP per month plan commitment. It will follow in Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, France, Italy, South Africa in November or December. An announcement in the U.S. from Verizon is expected soon.

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