RIM's first touch screen BlackBerry has just overcome an important hurdle on its way to a showdown with the iPhone: The BlackBerry Storm's been approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for release in the U.S. All devices that use U.S. airwaves must get passed a thumbs up from the FCC before shipping here.

When the Storm is released here, it'll be through Verizon Wireless. Unfortunately, RIM has yet to announce a specific release date or offer details on pricing.

Many view the Storm's display as an advancement over the iPhone because its touch screen depresses slightly when it is pressed. So, according to RIM, user will feel a soft click as the screen is released. This technology should make using the Storm's virtual keyboard more user-friendly than the iPhone's, which offers no such feedback.

For more on the BlackBerry Storm, see the articles below.