Getting a little more touchable

Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion has plans for two handsets that could spell trouble for the iPhone in 2008.

The first handset, currently known as Touchscreen 1.0, features a touch-sensitive screen — much like the iPhone's. The second is an upgrade on its Pearl phone which will be geared toward consumers, according to Globe and Mail.

An email darling in the business smartphone sector, Blackberry took the consumer market by storm in the past year and a half with media-rich features, more attractive handsets and affordable rates. Today 30 percent of its business is gleaned from non-enterprise consumers.

RIM is also orchestrating a Blackberry foray in Russia and China.

If the firm releases a touch-screen handheld, it may erode the prospects of the iPhone. Despite its trendiness, the iPhone has experienced trouble warming to enterprise users for its lack of support for encrypted data and inability to sync email and calendars.