Canada’s third largest cell phone provider, Telus Mobility, has confirmed that will carry Research In Motion’s forthcoming BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone, in direct competition with rivals, Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility.

Telus will begin selling the Bold 9700 next month, after its HSPA mobile broadband network becomes commercially available. The new network is a collaborative effort by Telus and Bell, and will allow both carriers to offer a wider range of 3G devices, including the Apple iPhone. This is expected to greatly increase competition in the Canadian smartphone market.

The Bold 9700 will feature a sleeker, more compact design than the original BlackBerry Bold, as well as a higher-resolution 480 x 360 pixel display, next generation 624-MHz processor, 3.2-megapixel digital camera, and new BlackBerry operating system.

It will be available through Rogers Wireless for $299.99 on a three-year contract. Bell and Telus have yet to announce pricing information.