With Apple's iPhone 4 threatening to topple it from its top perch in North America and even President Barrack Obama admitting on a TV show Thursday that using BlackBerry is 'no fun'' any more, the smartphone maker Research In Motion (RIM) seems all set to unveil a new device next week.

The Canadian wireless giant, which became a global brand by creating the super-encrypted device, has invited select journalists to an event in New York Tuesday where a new device is likely to be unveiled. Perhaps taking a cue from Apple boss Steve Job who makes a big show of launching new products, RIM may too announce its much speculated touchscreen BlackBerry with a sliding keyboard amid much fanfare.

RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie had said at last month's annual meeting of investors that the company will launch two devices this year - both running on its new BlackBerry 6 operating system software. The rumours about BlackBerry maker's proposed iPad tablet to rival Apple's iPad have also got a further boost, with RIM acquiring the internet domain blackpad.com.

According to the Whois database of Internet domain names, RIM acquired the domain name July 8 which expires September 8, 2011. With Apple's iPad becoming a roaring success, selling more than three million tablets within 80 days since its launch in April, the BlackBerry maker may soon spring a surprise by unveiling its tablet. With stock and BlackBerry market share shrinking, RIM is widening its net with new products, including smart phone devices, a new operating system and iPad tablet.

Interestingly, President Obama, BlackBerry's most high profile user in the world, told ABC's 'The View' show Thursday that using his favourite smartphone was 'no fun'' anymore as only 10 people could email him on the device that uses an encryption key to keep messaging secret.

'I have got to admit, it is no fun because they think that it is probably going to be subject to the presidential records act, so nobody wants to send me the real juicy stuff,'' the US president said on the show.

(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)