BlackBerry Storm2 9550

“The BlackBerry Storm 2 dispenses with RIM's iconic Qwerty keyboard and offers an innovative clicking touchscreen instead. It can't quite live up to its touchscreen rivals in terms of usability but, if you need the security of a BlackBerry or you find normal touchscreens too sensitive for your clumsy fingers, you'll find it offers plenty of great features.The Storm 2 is available for free on a £30-per-month contract, or SIM-free for around £430.”

“The BlackBerry Storm 2 has arrived to try and save the BlackBerry touch screen reputation after a pretty disastrous Storm 1 entrance last year. I used a Storm 1 and can safely say that while I'm a huge fan of Research In Motion 's (RIM) BlackBerry products (I've been a user since 2000), I was excited to see how RIM would jump into the touch screen Smartphone ring, and then immediately disappointed at the product I was holding in my hands.It was laggy, buggy, kludgy, and the whole having to click the screen paradigm combined to make me feel like hurling it at the wall many times.The BlackBerry Storm 2 is much better in many ways. It doesn't lag, it has fewer bugs, and typing doesn't feel as kludgly as before. You still have to click the screen, but even that has improved drastically.”

“The Storm 2 is where the Storm should've started, but at the same time, it's coming into a different world than a year ago—even on its own carrier—where not breaking new ground is simply moving too slow. More than that, while the Storm is overall a good phone, unless you have a very specific set of criteria for your phone—that is, a touchscreen BlackBerry—you probably shouldn't settle for a phone that doesn't do the touch or BlackBerry aspects spectacularly.”

“Since I was such a fan of the original BlackBerry Storm, it should surprise few that I really like the Storm2. I like the user interface, and I really like the speed at which the Storm2 handles messaging tasks. The new calendar and contact syncing options are very nice, too. But the camera seems to have taken a step backwards, and the browser can still be awkward to use at times. It is also hard to ignore the fact that heavy text input on the Storm2 can really tire out your fingers.That's why I think the Storm2 is a great device for the right type of user. It is a fantastic device for reading email and light messaging, and the nice social networking apps that are available will please many. The browser is good enough, and the WiFi helps speed things up a bit. But if you spend all day tapping out messages, you will likely get tired of the SurePress display - even if it is very cool. In the end, I still feel the Storm2 is a great phone, and I am willing to give it a Highly Recommended rating - for the right user, at least.”