In an attempt to keep pace with Apple’s popular touchscreen devices, like the iPhone and the iPad, the BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) is prepping new mobile handsets and software to retain its dominance of the smartphone market.

According to The Wall Street Journal’s Monday report, citing sources familiar with the proceedings, RIM is testing a slide-out-keyboard-equipped touchscreen smartphone, as well as a tablet device that will serve as a big-screen companion to its BlackBerry handset.

The news of the upcoming offerings from the Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM – which has long been leading the US market for smartphones - comes in the wake of increased competition from Apple’s devices as well as those running on Google’s Android operating system. 

The sources revealed that the new RIM smartphone will run on an updated version of the company’s Blackberry operating system; and will work quite like the iPhone. Along with giving users the ability to swipe through screens and expand images with their fingers, the handset will also feature a universal search bar for allowing users to search all the handset’s as well as some data online.

In addition to the new phone, sources also say that RIM is developing a tablet device that will connect to cellular networks via a BlackBerry handset. While the new smartphone may hit the stores in September end; the tablet will likely be released towards the end of the year.