It looks like RIM has finally decided to step up their game and start competing with Android, iPhone, etc.  All of the following information is based on rumors and hearsay.  Diversifying fact from fiction is impossible at this point in time, so take this all with 1.2×10^9 molecules of NaCl.

One thing we can almost guarantee is that the refresh to the Storm 2 (also known as the Odin Refresh) is a scrapped project.  However, there is still rumor of a Storm 3.  If you didn’t see the original article on the Storm 3, click here to see it.  Like all BlackBerrys, the Storm 3 must adopt a crappy nickname before it is released so that RIM can dazzle us with unintelligible bologna that will only make sense when the phone is actually announced… but, I digress.  The Storm 3′s super-awesome codename is the “Monaco”.  Don’t ask us why because, to be honest, we have no clue.

However, here comes my favorite part of this news.  There have been to pictures in relatively rapid succession from Mr. 1.3-megapixel, non-autofocus man himself of a BlackBerry Bold totally devoid of a trackpad.  Instead, it seems that this Bold will sport a touchscreen, similar to what we saw on the Torch (minus the sliding mechanism).  This phone has been codenamed Montana and pegged as the Bold 9900.  Above is something of an artists rendition, and not an actual picture.

I have to say that I am extremely curious about both the Monaco and Montana, but the Montana in particular.  I think it’s an awesome idea, but RIM needs to really deliver on this one if it is to be a success.  With the holiday season quickly approaching, a fire needs to be lit under RIM’s behind.

via: CrackBerry