'Apple Killer' in the works?
According to The New York Times, BlackBerry manufacturer, RIM, is preparing an assault on Apple's increasingly-popular iPhone.
RIM co-chief executive, Mike Lazaridis, fired a shot at Apple's iPhone device by stating:
"I couldn’t type on it and I still can't type on it, and a lot of my friends can't type on it. It’s hard to type on a piece of glass."
Mr Lazaridis' comments however haven't curbed speculation of a forthcoming touchscreen-fuelled BlackBerry. According to The New York Times, two independent developers writing software for coming RIM devices say that a touch-screen BlackBerry is in the works. Furthermore, RIM engineers are said to be referring to the device as "the A.K." - standing of course for "Apple Killer."
Clearly, the jury, and indeed RIM, are still out on the usefulness of touchscreen on a mobile device. However, with the undoubted consumer attraction toward Apple's iPhone, is a touchscreen BlackBerry inevitable? We think so, and we'd bet on seeing one sooner rather than later.
On the other hand, the BlackBerry's QWERTY keyboards are ultimately their killer feature. Should RIM be dropping the one component that makes the BlackBerry a much-loved device? That's questionable.
