HOWZAT

“When you’re using the phone itself, you’re actually pushing buttons. [Unlike other touchscreens] you don’t have to learn how to do that.”

It is unclear whether the new BlackBerry is advanced enough to take on the might of the hugely successful iPhone, which dominates the market. Last month, internet’s giant Google also entered the fray with the T-Mobile G1, which uses Google’s Android software and has one-click access to Google search and e-mail.

Nokia launched the Tube, which has an “all you can eat" music bundle allowing users to download an unlimited amount of music. To less fanfare, the likes of LG and Samsung have also launched touchscreen smartphones which will be available in time for Christmas.

“There’s going to be lots of opportunity and the consumer wins,” said Mr Lazaridis. “Like car market and jewellery market, there is no one winner.”

Video review: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Nokia has added to a lengthening list of iPhone rivals with an accomplished touchscreen phone called the Tube

• Nokia offers unlimited music for one-off fee of £130

• Attack of the androids: Google's new phone

Related Links

• Blackberry unveils its first flip handset

• Video review: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

• Google phone - the first review

An added bonus for the Storm is its ability to cut-and-paste text, which has been a key reason why e-mail junkies have preferred the BlackBerry brand over less corporate phones. Other mobiles, especially the iPhone, have been heavily criticised by users for not allowing such a simple function on its phones.

Battle of the Touchscreens

iPhone 3G

Pros - Links to your iTunes music player, can download thousands of applications, and gives super-fast access to the internet. It remains the best and most beautiful of all the touchscreens.

Cons - Remains expensive and costs up to £399. Has suffered some glitches with phone and internet connection in the past, though Apple are fixing these problems fast.

T-Mobile G1

Pros - Runs on Android, Google’s operating system for mobiles, which promises to give access to thousands of applications that have not been censored in advance (unlike the iPhone). Has a slide-out qwerty keyboard, which is better for typing than a touchscreen.

Cons - Looks and feels plastic and chunky. Android remains an untested format and it may be better bet to wait for other phone-makers to build better phones for the new software.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic or “Tube”

Pros: Its unlimited music service gives access to millions of tracks, so may be the best rival to the iPhone for music lovers. It supports handwriting, allowing you can to use a pen stylus to write on the touchscreen.

Cons: Reasonably expensive at around £220. Only 8GB of memory, so even if you downloaded thousands of tracks, you would not be able to play them all on the device.

Blackberry Storm

Pros: New touchscreen which can be pressed down like a keyboard, solving the problem of typing fast on a screen without making constant errors.

Cons: Thick and reasonably heavy. It might be even more ideal for the office worker, but doesn’t seem to offer anything other slicker-looking touchscreen phones don’t already do.

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