BlackBerry Storm 2: RIM plots sequel

BlackBerry makers RIM confirmed on Monday what many have speculated to be in the works: a BlackBerry Storm 2. While it may not ultimately be called the Storm 2, RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie confirmed the news to Reuters, saying that sales of the original BlackBerry Storm (pictured) remain strong and that it's working on next-generation devices to continue to tap into the consumer market.

Balsillie did not provide any specifics about the device, other than to say that the Storm has been a success "in terms of sales and adoption" and that sales remain strong, which contributed to its decision to develop the line. The BlackBerry Storm was RIM's first touchscreen device and was quickly pegged as the company's answer to the iPhone.

Balsillie added that more than half of the company's 25 million subscribers now fall into the noncorporate category, and just today a report by The NPD Group revealed that the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series surpassed the iPhone 3G as the top-selling consumer smart phone in the US. The BlackBerry Storm came in third and the BlackBerry Pearl came in fourth.

Yet, despite swift sales, the Storm received mixed reviews from the tech world and there were numerous customer complaints about buggy software and system failures. Should RIM stick to what it knows best and stay with the Qwerty/SureType messaging phones? It seems to be doing just fine with the Curve and Pearl series.