Research In Motion will reportedly replace the traditional physical keyboard with a touch-screen in its first device running on the upcoming Blackbery 10 OS.

Research in Motion Ltd. spokeswomen Rebecca Freiburger said Thursday that the new BlackBerry 10 software will be offered on devices with physical keyboards in the future, the Associated Press reported today.

RIM is preparing to launch the new BlackBerry 10 software later this year. The new OS will offer the multimedia, Internet browsing and apps experience customers now demand, in an effort to attract users that have been abandoning BlackBerrys for iPhones and Android devices.

Struggling RIM is also expected to lay off thousands of workers this year, as the company tries to review its business.