The first touch-screen BlackBerry smartphone will go on sale in the UK otoday, and thousands of eager-beaver customers have already placed pre-orders for the device, according to Vodafone.

The BlackBerry Storm, Research in Motion’s answer to Apple’s iPhone, will also be available in other European markets in time for the Christmas shopping season, Vodafone has said. This is first time RIM has developed a device in connection with a network service provider and the Storm will no doubt tempt generate appeal beyond the more tradition BlackBerry business user

A RIM spokesman told The National Post he expected the Storm to be “extremely popular.” He added that there were no current plans to jointly develop phones with other operators.

Out today | Free from £35 per month | Vodafone