Research in Motion has released the Storm, which looks a bit like Apple's iPhone.

However, instead of the iPhone's awkward to type on glass screen, the Storm's whole screen is backed by springs, and when pressed it moves. Storm will be available from Verizon Wireless in the U.S. and from Vodafone before Christmas.  There is no word on price. The phone will work both on Verizon Wireless' network and on Vodafone's, even though they use incompatible technologies.

The Storm will be equipped with radios to handle both networks, making international roaming a possibility. Mike Lanman, chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless, said that over the last year technology buyers at large corporations have found their employees demanding a touch-screen phone.

Of course, the Storm lacks Apple's iTunes movie store, but then you do not have to be terminally smug to use it, either. It uses more of a desktop browser than the iPhone because the screen can distinguish between light touches and firm presses. A light touch can move around a cursor, while a firm press activates a link.