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Today in Mobile

Colin Gibbs
Friday, October 23, 2009

The BlackBerry Storm 2 will be on shelves next week, Verizon Wireless confirmed today, adding Wi-Fi functionality and an upgraded touchscreen to the original version. While RIM still has much work to do in upgrading its BlackBerry OS and improving its web-browser technology, I think the Storm 2 will be a good gauge for how well the company has responded to recent lackluster reviews from consumers and critics. RIM has already proven it doesn’t have to make a gotta-have phone to sell handsets by the boatload, but if it can produce a sexy device with more intuitive features, it will make the white-hot smartphone space that much hotter.

The next disruptive iPhone feature? HD audio

I don't know whether this is truly a priority for Apple, but whoever can manage to make a great smartphone with superior audio will have a hit.

Submitted by Colin Gibbs
Telcos will find out that API payments are a two-way street

Dean Bubley predicts that operators "will (and indeed should) be paying for capabilities from Facebook, Google, Amazon and others..." And nobody covers this stuff as well as Dean Bubley.

Submitted by Colin Gibbs
RIM gets desperate to move BlackBerry PlayBooks

As my colleague Ryan Kim says in this solid post, RIM can't stop shooting itself in the foot. And a fire sale on its half-baked tablet isn't going to help.

Submitted by Colin Gibbs
HP to decide webOS’s future in “next couple of months”

I don't think webOS has much of a shot anymore, but the platform loses value every minute HP can't decide what to do. Sheer incompetence.

Submitted by Colin Gibbs
CTIA wins battle over labeling on phones

This ruling seems pretty logical to me, but I'm not expecting San Francisco to give up this fight anytime soon.

Submitted by Colin Gibbs