Tech Central: What's wrong with the BlackBerry Bold?

It was once the preserve of suited city workers, but the touchscreen BlackBerry launched today will take on the iPhone in a fierce battle for the top spot on Christmas gift lists.

More than 100,000 British customers have pre-ordered the BlackBerry Storm, which is seen as the first genuine rival to Apple’s iconic device thanks to its innovative clickable touchscreen. This can be pressed down like a button on a keyboard, unlike other touchscreen handsets on which users tap the unresponsive glass.

The handset is due to get a royal seal of approval today when the Queen visits the headquarters of Vodafone, which has an exclusive deal with RIM, the maker of the BlackBerry, to sell the device. A Vodafone spokesman said the Queen would be able to try out the Storm during her tour of the complex.

The Storm joins a crowded market for touchscreen phones. Nokia and Google have released new smartphones in recent weeks, but industry experts consider the iPhone to be the “sexiest” among the rivals. When Times Online was granted a first glance at the new device, the Storm appeared to have a similar “wow factor” to the iPhone, thanks largely to the clickable touchscreen.

The new screen addresses one of the biggest gripes with Apple’s device: that it does not allow fast typing. Typing on the clickable screen is more satisfying than tapping on glass, although it doesn't give as much feedback as a keyboard. Overall, the phone was easy to use and contained all the add-ons that demanding customers have come to expect, including fast internet access, a high-quality digital camera and high-resolution video.

An added bonus for the Storm is its ability to cut-and-paste text, which has been a key reason why e-mail junkies have preferred the BlackBerry brand over less corporate phones. Other mobiles, especially the iPhone, have been heavily criticised by users for not allowing such a simple function on its phones.

The main drawback of the BlackBerry remains its appearance. Though the new design, with its neat metal edges and rubber sides, is sleeker than rivals such as the T-Mobile G1, it is still thicker and heavier than the iPhone.

Ben Wood, of CCS Insight, the technology analysts, says the Storm is the first credible competitor to the iPhone.

“We’ve seen lots of 'me too' attempts since the iPhone came along, but nothing has lived up to expectations," he said. “I thought the first credible contender would come from Helsinki, home of Nokia, or maybe Seoul, but not Waterloo, Canada.”

He said the clickable screen, which acts like one large button, is an added dimension that means the Storm offers something more than the other iPhone wannabes.

However, some industry analysts say the Storm lacks the integrated applications and services, such as iTunes, that the iPhone has.

Caroline Milanesi, an analyst at Gartner, said: “Vodafone is obviously positioning the Storm as its answer to the iPhone. It’s got a good screen and the total package is good but it’s not an iPhone. It lacks the usability of the iPhone and lacks the applications and the integration of games, music, photos – the whole entertainment side that the iPhone does so well.”

Vodafone has backed the launch with a multi-million pound advertising campaign, which includes an online advert featuring Lewis Hamilton. It is Vodafone's biggest advertising campaign since the company signed up David Beckham in 2002.

The phone will be available exclusively on the Vodafone network for those willing to sign up to a two-year contract from £35 pounds a month.

The Blackberry Storm faces stiff opposition from similar devices in the run up to Christmas from similar devices.

In September, Google took its first step into the mobile phone market with the launch of the T-Mobile G1, which has a slide-out qwerty keyboard, uses Google’s Android software and has one-click access to Google search and e-mail.

Nokia launched the Tube, which allows users to download unlimited music to their phones. To less hype, the LG, Samsung and Sony Ericsson have also launched touchscreen smartphones in time for Christmas.

The smartphone Christmas war took another turn this week as both Nokia and the mobile operator 3 launched cheaper internet-enabled phones, pitched at younger users who want access to e-mail and applications like Facebook while on the go but are not prepared to sign up for the long, expensive contracts that come with the Storm, iPhone and G1.

The INQ1 (pronounced ink one), available from 3 for £80 on pay-as-you-go contracts or free on 18-month contracts for £15 a month, integrates Facebook with the phone’s contacts book and message inbox. Scrolling through your contacts shows you your friends’ Facebook updates and brings you to their profile pagea with a click of a button.

The INQ1 is the first phone from INQ, the mobile phone maker set up earlier in the year by 3's owner, Hutchison Whampoa.

Explore Tech & Web

• Personal Tech

• The Web

• Gadgets & Gaming