Going head to head against Apple and its 3G iPhone isn't cheap. In its quest to knock the high-flying iPhone off its perch, Research in Motion spruced up components and design which led to higher costs for its latest release, the BlackBerry Storm 9530.

An iSuppli report released this week, estimates the Storm costs $202.89 in materials and manufacturing.

That's $28.56 more than iSuppli says Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) $174.33 iPhone direct bill of materials (BOM) cost, and about $32 more than it estimates itcost RIM to make its BlackBerry Bold.

The news comes as consumers pull back on spending in today's recession. Yet wireless carriers are reaping big financial rewards thanks to data services revenues tied to snazzy full-featured smartphone offerings.

The Storm and iPhone both retail for $199 with two-year data services plans while the Bold carries a $299 price tag for data plan subscribers.

Verizon Wireless is the exclusive carrier for the Storm. AT&T is the exclusive carrier for the iPhone and Bold in the U.S.

RIM told InternetNews.com that carrier partners set BlackBerry prices and declined comment on the new iSuppli report.

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