BlackBerry Storm 2 Refresh still in the works; BlackBerry Torch 2 9850 is now the Volt

BlackBerryOS got a tip from someone on the endangered species list-a RIM insider-who told them the rumor that the BlackBerry Storm 2 Refresh is still alive and is being called the BlackBerry Monarch. While talk of a Storm 2 Refresh dates as far back as last September, it seems that RIM wanted to wait until they could load it up with the latest BlackBerry 7 OS. The device will resemble the BlackBerry Storm 2 down to the SurePress Technology which means the clicking screen will be back, if this speculation pans out.

According to a tip from a RIM insider, the SurePress clicking keyboard, seen on the BlackBerry Storm, will be back on the BlackBerry Monarch

While SurePress is certainly an acquired taste for many, RIM would be playing this smart by eliminating the Storm name and starting over with the Monarch moniker. Unfortunately for RIM, hearing the name BlackBerry Storm brings back sour memories for many Verizon customers who expected an Apple iPhone competitor when the first BlackBerry touchscreen device was launched and instead, ended up with a phone that suffered from buggy, half-baked software. Not only did the accelerometer fail to work half the time, but the lack of Wi-Fi turned out to be a major design design flaw and the clicking touchscreen drove many batty. Eventually, with the launch of BlackBerry 5 OS, the original Storm became a serviceable device that was improved greatly with the sequel model (which included Wi-Fi). Still, killing off the Storm name is a good idea for a company that needs to look ahead to the future instead of looking back at the past.

The source also passed along the rumor that the BlackBerry Torch 9850/9860, which along with the BlackBerry Bold 9930 can now be found on the CelleBrite data extraction system as we reported earlier today, will be known as the BlackBerry Volt. While the original Torch wasn't nearly the mess that the Storm was, a disappointing set of specs kept sales down and the Torch 2 Volt 9850/9860 will have very competitive hardware and software on board.

source: BlackBerryOS