RIM’s recent release, the BlackBerry Storm, is a device that tries to outdo Apple’s iPhone by including a beefed-up operating system, polishing up the interface and connecting it with a really fast 3G network. The device also features visual voice mail and a cut-and-paste feature.

Furthermore, RIM got rid of the keyboard and got itself a touchscreen. Early reviews concerning the smartphone give the Storm a thumbs up. It seems that Apple’s success with the iPhone determined RIM to take risks and jump on the bandwagon.

Firstly, the screen has a large display that uses SurePress technology from RIM that makes it feel like using a physical thumb board when you type on the screen.

The 3.2 megapixel camera offers a video feature, something that the iPhone does not have. Storm works with BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise. Furthermore, Storm comes preloaded with DataViz Documents to Go suite for editing Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point files from the handset. RIM has recently unveiled plans to launch its own application store, similar to the AppStore for the iPhone and the Android Market for G1. The store is set to launch in 2009.

The BlackBerry Storm 9540 will be available in Verizon Wireless stores and online for $199.99 starting November 21. As previously mentioned, its main features are the clickable touchscreen, the high-resolution camera and an improved Web browser. The smartphone’s main objective is to outsell its Apple rival, the iPhone, and it really seems like it can do it. Storm is by far RIM’s best work, a true smartphone able to compete in a growing market like this.