Planet of the Apps: Touching the void

RIM’s attempts to take on the iPhone in the touch market emerged at the end of 2008 with the BlackBerry Storm. A year on, and with details of a ‘Storm 2’ already hitting the Web, technology correspondent Jon Wilcox assesses the proliferation of touch technology during its first incarnation. Smartphones are continuing to migrate into the mainstream consciousness, thanks to the efforts of Apple. However, the devices remain most prevalent in the business community, where Research in Motion’s BlackBerry range, Nokia, and Windows Mobile-powered smartphones continue to face competition from the iPhone. The use of touch functionality within smartphones is also proving popular, with the major manufacturers offering devices that take advantage of the technology. So what touch-enabled apps are currently available for the business environment? Perhaps it’s somewhat inevitable, but many don’t fall under the category of productivity...