Research In Motion announced the BlackBerry Storm2, the follow-up to its first touchscreen device. RIM is promoting the product as one of its major launches for the holiday season. 

Verizon, the exclusive operator of the Storm in the U.S., did not make any official announcement about pricing or availability for the device, but Vodafone announced that it will launch the new smartphone in seven European countries as well as South Africa.

"This is a dramatically different, dramatically enhanced product," RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie told Bloomberg. The original device suffered at its launch from generally unfavorable reviews when compared with Apple's touchscreen iPhone 3G, launched last summer. The new phone has several advancements from the original, including WiFi and a new user input mechanism. The touchscreen now stays still when tapped and offers tactile feedback electronically instead of mechanically, according to a review in the Wall Street Journal.

In an interview with Reuters, Balsillie acknowledged that the company is prepared to launch new smartphones to keep pace with the likes of Apple, Palm and Motorola. Analysts expect the company to launch the Bold2 with U.S. and Canadian operators in late October.

"We have a really rich (product) road map...and we aren't slowing down," he said.

For more:
- see this Storm2 video
- read this Bloomberg article
- take a look at this Reuters article
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)

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