Research in Motion (RIM), the smartphone maker, is expected to release a new touchscreen BlackBerry next week to compete against the iPhone 4 and other smartphones.

The new phone, the BlackBerry 9800, may be launched at an event in New York City next week according to an earlier report from CNET. AT&T is expected to be the exclusive carrier for the smartphone.

There is speculation that the BlackBerry 9800 will be the first to be based on Blackberry OS 6, RIM's new operating system. The Blackberry OS 6 comes with a revamped Web browser, a touch screen and a full slide-out keyboard.

The company has profited from its low-end BlackBerry devices globally. However, sales are starting to decline with its high-end smartphones. This is especially true in North America, mostly due to competition from iPhones and devices based on Google's Android platform. A report from Reuters also shows that the company faces increased competition in the enterprise market as more companies allow employees to swap BlackBerrys for other smartphones.

The new BlackBerry 9800 may go on sale in the U.S in August. RIM has yet to announce pricing for the device.