BlackBerry Storm Passes the 1 Million Mark

U.S. consumers have picked up a million BlackBerry Storm smartphones since this model debuted in late November. This device is clearly selling well, but is it selling as well as it could be?

Just yesterday, the Wall Street Journal described the Storm's launch as "bumpy", as it was met with complaints from reviewers and users about performance lags and bugs.

Still, Verizon -- the exclusive U.S. provider of this model -- has lept to its defense. A company spokesperson told ComputerWorld that selling a million units in two months is "not a bumpy start."

Could It Have Been Better?

Although there's no doubt the Storm has gotten off to a strong start, it's not a strong as its chief rival's debut.

This BlackBerry's design makes it a direct rival to Apple's iPhone, and critics of the Storm have been quick to point out that the latest smartphone from Apple started at a faster rate: 2.4 million units in three months.

Dealing with the Issues

The Storm is the first BlackBerry with a touchscreen. This is actually the centerpiece of the device, as it is also the first BlackBerry without a built-in keyboard.

Adding a significant new feature to a well-establish mobile platform can be a tricky process, and the Storm is no exception. Integrating a large touchscreen that can rotate on the fly into the BlackBerry OS introduced many problems, as did the on-screen keyboard.

Still, RIM has worked hard trying to iron out the wrinkles. It has already released one system software update for this model, and another is rumored to be coming soon.

via ComputerWorld