Research in Motion is preparing to launch the long-anticipated touch-screen version of its BlackBerry smartphone, according to an official promotion e-mail from U.S. carrier Verizon Wireless.

The device will be known as the BlackBerry Storm 9530 and will feature "global capabilities," Verizon said, without providing specifics. The carrier did not give an exact launch date, either, saying only that the smartphone is "coming soon," as reported by Reuters.

"As far as implications go, this is really just about RIM continuing to increase its relevance in the consumer market," said Kevin Burden, director of mobile devices for ABI Research, Oyster Bay, NY. "RIM has a very strong position in the enterprise market and began its appeal to the consumers with the launch of its 7100 series in 2004, then had a real hit with consumers with the launch of the Pearl in 2006."

In another nod to consumers, RIM announced at the recent CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2008 in San Francisco that it is developing an integrated MySpace Mobile experience customized for BlackBerry smartphones (see story).

Both brands kept a high profile at the conference and tradeshow (see story).

As for the touch-screen BlackBerry, it will be the latest in a long line of handsets attempting to compete with Apple's iPhone, from the Samsung Instinct on Sprint to the T-Mobile G1 with Google, which will be released commercially on Oct. 22 (see story).

"Touch screens are getting a lot of attention today because Apple found a way to make a capacitive touch screen work on a small form-factor phone, and while most touch-screen phones continue to use resistive screens, the interest in touch as an interface has been brought to a new level for all phones that use touch," Mr. Burden said.

"The touchscreen Blackberry is about RIM capitalizing on the interest and continuing to push into the mindshare of consumers who may not necessarily be looking or an email-first mobile phone," he said.

In an editorial, Michael Foschetti, managing director of Mobisix, said that the rivalry between BlackBerry and the iPhone is good for mobile marketing (see story).

Technology bloggers and analysts have speculated since early this year that Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM was working on a touch device as an answer to Apple's popular iPhone.

In February, RIM's co-CEO Jim Balsillie told Reuters that the company may launch a touch device if consumers want it.

And in May, media reports said that the touch-screen BlackBerry would be called Thunder and would likely launch in the third quarter of this year.

Unsurprisingly, Research in Motion was playing its cards close to the vest at press time.

"RIM cannot discuss products before they are officially launched," said Rachel Colley, New York-based spokeswoman for Research in Motion.