RIM launches slicker BlackBerry

Research In Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, plans to hold an event Aug. 3 that may be a debut of a new model with a slide-out keyboard, analysts said.

The invitation for the unspecified event in New York includes AT&T Inc.'s logo and was sent to people in the media.

"I would suspect this would be the new BlackBerry 9800, a touch-screen slider phone," said Tavis McCourt, analyst with Morgan Keegan & Co. RIM, best known for handsets with a full keyboard, has struggled to create a touch-screen device that can compete with Apple Inc.'s iPhone.

Locally, RIM has operations in Rolling Meadows.