The new Blackberry Storm goes on sale Friday.

Like the iPhone or LG Incite, it has no keyboard -- one you can see anyway.

The phones are available through Verizon Wireless for $250, or $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate, with a new two-year customer agreement, says Jessica Swain, a spokeswoman for the launch. Apple charges $199 for its iPhone.

The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg wrote in today's column that "despite the Storm's lack of a keyboard, it's a real BlackBerry in every other respect, with push e-mail, corporate features and the familiar BlackBerry menus."

Mossberg said that in many respects, the Storm is a touch-based, large-screen version of the recently released BlackBerry Bold, a polished version of a traditional BlackBerry and sold through AT&T.

Swain explained that the Storm has "an innovative touch-screen that actually depresses ever so slightly when the screen is pressed. The user feels the screen being pressed and released with a gentle click."

How it will do in the marketplace remains to be seen. Networkworld said: "Questions remain about whether the offering can match the popular Apple consumer device in several key areas."

Used one? Please tell me how you like it.