Finding the form factor to satisfy users

As the world's major smartphone makers fight for market share, battles to win customers are being fought on a number of fronts.

While Apple's rivals work hard to emulate its success on the applications front, phone makers are also tinkering with the all-important "form factor", serving up myriad devices in a full range of shapes and sizes.

While the iPhone has helped make touchscreen devices accepted, manufacturers say phones with full "qwerty" keypads remain popular.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) has also released a new version of its Pearl handset that is too small to include a full keyboard or a touchscreen, but which the company says is popular with users who don't want the bulk of a larger smartphone.

RIM's senior vice-president responsible for the BlackBerry platform, Alan Brenner, said the company did not believe there would ever be a single form factor that met all users' requirements.