Synaptics wins deal for RIM's touch-screen phone

By Bijoy Anandoth Koyitty

BANGALORE (Reuters) - Synaptics Inc, a maker of touch-screen user interfaces, said Research In Motion is using its clearpad custom module for RIM's upcoming touch-screen phone BlackBerry Storm.

Synaptics' clearpad custom module enables two-finger input on the Storm for functions such as copy and paste, a company spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman, however, declined to divulge revenue expectations from the deal.

RIM, the latest player to enter the touch-screen phone market, said on Wednesday its Storm will be available later this fall, exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers in the United States and Vodafone customers in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Thomas Weisel Partners analyst Heidi Poon said Synaptics' touch-screen products will help it offset recent weakness in its PC and consumer electronics segments in the fourth quarter.

"Next year there is going to be broader penetration with more touch-screen products coming up in the market," Poon said.

As handset makers compete to enhance user experience, the demand for touch-screen handsets is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

The touch-screen phone market got a major boost in 2007 with the launch of Apple's iPhone.