Verizon Wireless is getting ready to launch a new RIM smartphone, BlackBerry 9530 Storm. The smartphone seems to be the same as what was previously known under the name of BlackBerry Thunder or BlackBerry 9500. It’s RIM’s first touchscreen device and it should hit the market by the end of 2008.

A recently leaked image gives us precious details about the smartphone: an 8GB microSD card and a 3.5mm headset jack. These aspects aside, the BlackBerry Storm should be a great multimedia device, but little is known about its actual capabilities.