If you are planning to buy the 16GB version of BlackBerry PlayBook tablet then you should better hurry up as the tablet is about to disappear from shelves soon because RIM is going to stop the manufacturing of the low-end variant of its PlayBook tablet.

Research In Motion announced on Thursday that the company is planning to stop manufacturing of 16GB variant of BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. The Canadian firm wants users to opt for 32GB and 64GB models instead. However, the company will continue to offer 16GB PlayBook tablet until stock lasts.

"RIM will no longer be making the 16 GB model of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. The 16 GB PlayBook will continue to be available for distributors and retailers while quantities last. We continue to remain committed to the tablet space and the 32 GB and 64 GB models of the BlackBerry PlayBook continue to be available from our distributors and retailers around the world. There is more value for our customers in the higher capacity models (32 GB, 64 GB), and as such we have decided to focus our efforts here," said RIM in the statement.

BlackBerry PlayBook tablet has been facing some deep trouble in the market, especially from rival tablets like Apple iPad and Amazon's Kindle Fire as well as other android tablets. The tablet has received mixed reviews so far. The biggest problem that RIM has been facing is due to unsold stock of the tablet at the shelves. According to research firm Gartner, BlackBerry had just 0.80 million tablet users in 2011 as compared to 40 million Apple iPad users.

In its attempt to boost sales, the company slashed the prices of 16GB model from $499 to $199 in the end of 2011 as a limited time offer only. However, in February this year, the prices were made permanent. Prices of 32GB and 64GB models of PlayBook tablet were also cut down to $249 (from $599) and $299 (from $699) respectively.

It is believed that the highlighted move made by RIM is its attempt to make some room for next-generation PlayBook tablets running BlackBerry OS 10, which are expected to debut by the end of 2012. The company also confirmed previously that the PlayBook tablet will be updated to BlackBerry OS 10 latter this year.