According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Research In Motion (RIM) is planning to launch a touch-screen BlackBerry in response to Apple’s popular iPhone.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Journal said the touch screen handset, called Thunder, is expected to be introduced sometime in the third quarter. Also in line with Apple’s strategy, the report claims that RIM plans to launch Thunder exclusively with Verizon Wireless in the United States and Vodafone in Europe.

RIM has not yet commented on the report.

The Journal cited earlier reports of a touch-based device from RIM on the Boy Genius Report site, which said that handset will have only four keys and no slide-out keyboard.