Research In Motion (RIM) today confirmed that the BlackBerry Storm – the vendor’s first touchscreen device – will go on sale in the next few weeks to Verizon Wireless customers in the US and Vodafone customers in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand. Specific details on pricing and launch dates were not released. RIM claims the 3G device is “the world’s first ‘clickable’ touchscreen smartphone” – supporting single-touch, multi-touch and gestures – that depresses slightly when the screen is pressed.

The move follows the recent release of its first device geared towards the consumer market – the ‘flip-phone’ 8220 Pearl smartphone – and the earlier launch of its first HSPA device, the BlackBerry Bold. According to Gartner, RIM doubled its smartphone global market share in Q2 2008 from the year-earlier period to 17.4 percent, securing second spot behind market leader Nokia. However, last month RIM warned that higher costs could affect its margins in the current quarter, whilst Deutsche Bank this week downgraded the company after RIM’s co-CEO announced that US operator AT&T is still testing the Bold and has not yet launched the product. Meanwhile, in separate news it has been speculated that RIM is set to introduce the BlackBerry Application Center, a virtual software storefront to rival Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android Market.