A document leaked on Monday confirms rumors of the launch of a touch screen smartphone by Canadian firm Research In Motion.

The document was leaked--intentionally, it seems--by phone operator Verizon Wireless, who will be the handset’s exclusive retailer in the U.S.

“We’re launching a groundbreaking device … and it’s exclusive in the U.S. to Verizon Wireless,” the leaked document said.

The smartphone, dubbed Storm--and not Thunder as many had thought--will work with both CDMA and GSM to support international roaming, and feature a “click” touch screen that imitates the tactile feel of a keyboard.

The other talked-about features include a 3.2 megapixel camera, a high resolution screen, 3G capacity, and visual voice mail provided by Verizon.

After being delayed for months, the Bold, another much-anticipated RIM phone, is expected to be distributed in the U.S. sometime in October through AT&T.

The Storm should be available in the U.S. sometime this fall, unless its release, like that of the Bold, is eternally delayed.

RIM is the leading smartphone seller in the U.S, followed by Apple, which has already sold 9 million units of the popular iPhone since it entered the mobile phone market in June last year.