The BlackBerry Storm Challenges the iPhone

Is BlackBerry's new handheld better than Apple's iconic device? That depends on whether you are mostly into messaging or browsing

The Storm: Still a text-centric device, but with an increased fun factor Taka

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By Stephen H Wildstrom

November 19, 2008 at 5:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

The new touchscreen BlackBerry Storm looks a little like an iPhone and behaves a bit like one, too. So its release is sure to spark a furious debate over which is better. That's the wrong question. Each is an outstanding product—and distinct, despite a few similar design flourishes. The correct question is, which is right for you?

Although the Storm was clearly inspired by Apple's (AAPL) success with the iPhone, the two phones were conceived with different goals in mind. Research In Motion (RIMM) has removed its signature physical keyboard to make room for a 3�-inch display, but it didn't compromise the BlackBerry mission: The Storm is first and foremost a text-centric device built around RIM's celebrated e-mail services. This makes it the hands-down winner for messaging tasks, particularly if you work for an organization that uses the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to relay corporate mail.