Research In Motion the makers of the popular BlackBerry phone is set to put the squeeze on the Apple iPhone with the launch of a new “Storm” phone that has an “intuitive touchscreen” which can be pressed down like buttons on a keyboard. With the iPhone the glass has to be tapped.

Launched today, the new unit will be ready to battle with the likes of Apple’s iPhone and the new “Google phone” in the run up to Christmas.

The new BlackBerry Storm has metallic edges and rubber sides and according to the Times in the UK, who have seen the new phone looks sleek and stylish and is easy to hold and use.

On the downside the device is thicker and heavier than rival devices.

With the new BlackBerry Storm, which is only available via Vodafone, users can download music and movies and take high-quality digital photographs. It also has a built-in GPS system.

 Speaking to The Times, Mike Lazaridis, Chief Executive of RIM, the makers of BlackBerry phones, said that the big advantage of the new device was its intuitive touchscreen which can be pressed down, allowing fast typing as on a keyboard.  “Here, you have a touchscreen that people don’t have to learn how to use, because its very natural,” he said.

“This clickable interface is like an engineering marvel,” RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie said in an interview. “It is revolutionary.”

Analysts have said that as RIM continues to push into the broader consumer market, beyond the executives and other professionals that have been its mainstay, it will see increased competition from other handset makers. RIM has consistently brushed off such concerns and its subscriber growth has backed up its confidence.

The Storm also comes preloaded with software for e-mail and managing documents, as well as a media player for music, movies and photos. It’s also equipped with a 3.2 megapixel camera.

RIM did not announce a specific release date for the Storm, nor did it offer details on pricing.