BlackBerry SurePress Technology Here to Stay

Recently leaked images of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Storm successor, unofficially dubbed "Storm 2"--and a very early hands-on review--seemed to suggest that BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) had decided to scrap the infamous "clicky" SurePress screen technology that set RIM's first touch BlackBerry apart from the pack. However, RIM's co-CEO yesterday clearly stated that SurePress is alive and well.

So will we see a second SurePress BlackBerry Storm? And is that pictured device simply a pre-production unit with a different screen than what will ship with the finished product? Mike Lazaridis, RIM's founder and co-CEO had this to say about the Storm 2 and SurePress when queried Wednesday at the Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital event:

"SurePress is here to stay."

Lazaridiss statement clearly puts to bed speculation that the company is doing away with SurePress all together. Such rumors are really groundless anyway, as the first Storm and its screen have been a resounding success for RIM and Verizon Wireless, the exclusive U.S. Storm provider--at least from a commercial perspective. I just can't see RIM "investing" all those SurePress R&D man hours, either. And the company was even awarded a prestigious Mobile World Congress Award for SurePress.

It's worth noting that in no way did Lazaridis say that the Storm 2 will have SurePress. All he said is that the company's still working with the technology. So it could potentially show up in later devices, like the rumored Magnum, and not the Storm successor.

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