This is a big question that a lot of BlackBerry users must be asking themselves—should they grab the new BlackBerry Torch 9800 with its sliding keyboard and touchscreen, or wait for the touchscreen only Storm 3. It’s a more difficult question than you might think. On the one hand, the Torch has the QWERTY keyboard that BlackBerry users love. On the other, the Storm 3 is expected to be faster, have a better screen, and have some type of mobile hotspot ability.

What may tip the scales for some is the possibility that the Storm 3 may have LTE (4G) technology. While LTE is not widely available yet, many large metro areas are getting it. You know, where all of those BlackBerry business users work.

However, quite a few people are stuck in an uncomfortable upgrade position. Their current BlackBerry will not be supported by Research In Motion (RIM) for an upgrade to BlackBerry OS 6. OS 6 brings plenty of badly needed features that many BlackBerry owners wish they already had. Social Feeds organizes all your messaging clients and social media sites in one place. Or how about the new browser? Webkit-based (like Apple and Google’s mobile browsers) it makes you actually enjoy surfing the web on a BlackBerry.

Do these people wait around with the outdated smartphones for the new Storm or upgrade now and get some much needed improvement immediately? I am sure that this is a vexing question rolling around in many BlackBerry users minds. The biggest advantage that I can think of for choosing the Torch option, is that once it’s time to upgrade again, 4G will be in your area. An entire new generation of smartphones will be coming out and your upgrade time will have come again.

So which option are you going to choose? Get the Torch now since you need a new phone or anguish with your current one until the Storm 3 comes?  That’s a difficult question. Or what if you’re with a BlackBerry that supports an upgrade to OS 6? Will that keep you happy for a while longer? I look forward to hearing what you think.