There's a tendency for industry commentators to bill every new smartphone as a potential iPhone killer.

In RIM's case however, the pressure is on for the current US market leader to serve up something that can just match Apple's and Android's assault. 

As such, mounting speculation that it will announce the slider 9800 handset at a joint press conference with AT&T next Tuesday has perked interest, with shares rising by 3.75 percent to over $57 as a result.

Keeping tabs on Apple

The new device is being seen by many as RIM's first direct attempt to curb the rise of iPhone, which – combined with Android - has eaten into BlackBerry's lead in the States.

Research firm Gartner estimates RIM's US market share dropped to 41 percent in the first quarter of 2010, down from 55 percent in the previous year.

As a result, investors are expecting RIM to sign an exclusivity deal with AT&T – which also has the sole rights to iPhone in the States – to enable the carrier to go to town on the device promotion wise.

RIM is also in the middle of developing BlackBerry 6, the new OS expected to ship with the kind of multimedia features iPhone users have become accustomed to.

[source: Reuters]