Verizon Wireless has officially announced the successor to RIM's popular BlackBerry Storm smartphone, the Storm2 9550. The touch-screen based device has received a number of hardware and software enhancements, and it's expected to become available in the United States before the end of October. Leading U.S. wireless carrier Verizon Wireless today announced its latest BlackBerry smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2 9550. The Storm2 is Research In Motion’s (RIM) follow-up effort to the popular touch-screen based BlackBerry Storm 9530, and it builds on the feature-set of that device with new touch-based software features and streamlined design. Research In Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry Storm2 Smartphone Last week, RIM officially announced the Storm2 to the world via a press release about the BlackBerry Storm2 9520 along with U.K. carrier Vodafone. There are currently two versions of the Storm2 on the market: one that runs on U.S. CDMA networks as well as GSM networks (Storm2 9550); and another with only GSM frequencies (Storm2 9520). Verizon has priced the new BlackBerry Storm2 9550 device at $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and new, two-year service agreement, and it’s expected to become available online and in Verizon stores on October 28, 2009. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe Specific BlackBerry Storm2 features and enhancements include BlackBerry handheld OS 5.0, which offers users a variety of new BlackBerry functionality; improved “SurePress” screen technology that provides tactile feedback through “clicking;” slimmer, sleeker hardware design; and Wi-Fi support. (The first-generation BlackBerry Storm 9500/9530 was widely criticized for its lack of W-Fi, so this feature is particularly significant.) Along with its Storm2 announcement, Verizon today announced the availability of BlackBerry handheld OS v5.0.0.328 for the original Storm 9530. Though just officially announced by RIM earlier this month and by Verizon today, the Storm2 was not at all a secret; various blogs and tech-websites have been leaking images and even publishing reviews for months. RIM and Verizon’s Storm2 announcement comes just a week after the BlackBerry-maker unveiled another much-anticipated smartphone, the BlackBerry Bold 9700. The Bold 9700 is expected to become available in November from AT&T and T-Mobile in the United States for $199.99 after rebates and service commitments. AS FREE CIO BlackBerry NewsletterGet better use out of your BlackBerry and keep up-to-date on the latest developments. Sign-up » Related content opinion The changing face of cybersecurity threats in 2023 Cybersecurity has always been a cat-and-mouse game, but the mice keep getting bigger and are becoming increasingly harder to hunt. By Dipti Parmar Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Cybercrime Security brandpost Should finance organizations bank on Generative AI? Finance and banking organizations are looking at generative AI to support employees and customers across a range of text and numerically-based use cases. By Jay Limbasiya, Global AI, Analytics, & Data Management Business Development, Unstructured Data Solutions, Dell Technologies Sep 29, 2023 5 mins Artificial Intelligence brandpost Embrace the Generative AI revolution: a guide to integrating Generative AI into your operations The CTO of SAP shares his experiences and learnings to provide actionable insights on navigating the GenAI revolution. By Juergen Mueller Sep 29, 2023 4 mins Artificial Intelligence feature 10 most in-demand generative AI skills Gen AI is booming, and companies are scrambling to fill skills gaps by hiring freelancers to make the most of the technology. These are the 10 most sought-after generative AI skills on the market right now. By Sarah K. White Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Hiring Generative AI IT Skills Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe