Blackberry has announced a release date of a new device aimed squarely at the iPhone. Dubbed Thunder and with a release date sometime in September, according to The Wall Street Journal, the new Blackberry will feature a full touchscreen and will be exclusive to Verizon. It will feature 3G technology and connectivity along with GSM access for overseas use.

If the touchscreen is even remotely similar to the iPhone, watch out. There will be few reasons that the iPhone will have an advantage. Business users (and there are millions of them) are all-too-familiar with the Blackberry and businesses equip many of their employees with them. As for the difficulties typing on a virtual keypad, Blackberry Bold has that covered too, leaving little special about the iPhone. That is, perhaps, until we see the full capabilities of the soon-to-be released second generation iPhone, coming June 9.