(Column) - Touchscreen is the must-have feature in latest cell phones, particularly smartphones. And the world’s two most celebrity companies going head-to-head against each other are obviously Apple and RIM. Apple’s iPhone has been called the Blackberry Killer, and RIM’s newly announced BlackBerry Bold is called the iPhone Killer. Such comparisons are meaningless, but they make for interesting reading. Although Bold doesn’t have a touchscreen, rumors are swirling around RIM and its Thunder device that’s slated to compete better against the iPhone, and yes, with touchscreen. Rumors also suggest RIM’s intention to takeaway the QWERTY keyboard and make it touch exclusive.

What a mistake!

RIM is primarily, despite its consumer-oriented intentions, an enterprise serving company. The Blackberry is the tool of choice for executives and staffers on the go. And part of the appeal of the Blackberry is its QWERTY keyboard that’s makes for effortlessly composing messages. Like it should be. People on the go don’t have the time to play around and pay attention to their screen, or keep hitting the delete button until they finally get the word right.

RIM BlackBerry Bold (9000) Smartphone

Look, Apple’s iPhone is great. The keyboard is very nice as well. But it’s not quite there with Blackberry and its tactile feedback. After personally working with the iPhone for well over three months, typing is still painful from time to time. Previously, on my Blackberry, I could type much faster and compose long-winded messages with ease and without focusing 100 percent of my attention on the keyboard. I haven’t been able to do that with the iPhone. As much as I credit the iPhone for teaching me the value of being patient, it’s not something that I was worried about with my Blackberry. I miss that useful keyboard.

And now RIM is thinking about skipping the core part of its device? Absolutely not! If RIM wants to factor in touch capabilities, then it can do two things: 1. Make the screen touch compatibility, but still keep the keyboard intact; or 2. Design the device in such a way that a physical keyboard can pop out, and of course, make the screen bigger (like iPhone’s) with the onscreen keyboard. That should keep everyone satisfied.

I understand option two is farfetched at best. It’s not feasible, and Blackberry units aren’t the most attractive of the bunch anyways, so asking for physical keyboard integration is too much. I say, stick with option one. It’s the best of both worlds. Touchscreen by itself, as great as it is on occasion, will spell doom for an otherwise great company with an even greater product.

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