Vodafone and Research In Motion (RIM) have announced that the BlackBerry Storm will be available Vodafone customers in A/NZ.

Mike Lazaridis, president and co-chief executive officer at RIM said the ‘smartphone’ was designed to satisfy the needs of both consumers and business customers.

The BlackBerry Storm smartphone combines the communications features, global connectivity and personal productivity advantages of the BlackBerry platform; with a touch-screen technology that enhances the touch interface and enables typing.

It also includes one of the world's first “clickable” touch-screen responds much like a physical keyboard and also supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures for intuitive and efficient application navigation.

In A/NZ, Vodafone will support customers with its 3G mobile broadband networks and the power and reach of the world’s leading international mobile communications group.

Frank H. Rovekamp, global chief marketing officer, Vodafone Group said it was delighted to bring the BlackBerry Storm, directly into the hands of consumer and business customers.

“With its unique clickable touch-screen, giving access to all the desirable multimedia features and services such as browsing, music and video, turn-by-turn satellite navigation, messaging and social networking,” he said.