Apple Inc is expected to unveil the new version of its iPad tablet device on March 2 at an event in San Francisco.

The next-generation iPad, which is unofficially termed the 'iPad 2', is expected to be "thinner and lighter" than the current iPad tablet computer.

The new iPad is likely to be unveiled at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts, "the scene of many such Apple events," according to a report in the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital network.

The California-based technology giant is yet to send out invites for the event.

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The first iPad was revealed at a media event held at the Yerba Buena Centre by Apple chief Steve Jobs on January 27, 2010.

It hit stores last April and so far, Apple has sold more than 15 million iPads.

The new version of the iPad will have a camera on the front of the device for features like video-conferencing.

It will also have more memory and a more powerful graphics processor.

It was reported that Apple's shipments of the new version of its iPad tablet computer may be delayed till June because of "production bottlenecks" at Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, the Taipei-based contract manufacturer for Apple.

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Quoting "multiple sources", the All Things Digital report said while the iPad 2 launch date "is firm", it is not known whether Jobs will attend the unveiling of the new iPad.

Jobs, a pancreatic cancer survivor, is currently on an indefinite leave to focus on his health.

Jobs remains the company CEO, but day-to-day operations at Apple are handled by chief operating officer Tim Cook.

Jobs attended a dinner with President Barack Obama last week, along with other California technology leaders like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Eric Schmidt.

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Apple's new iPad will face stiff competition from several other tablet computers being launched in the market by companies like Samsung, Motorola, RIM and Dell.

Dell plans to release a 10-inch tablet that runs on Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system later this year, while Samsung has already launched its 7-inch Galaxy Tab.

Google is rolling out the first version of its Android operating system designed for tablets -- called Honeycomb -- on Thursday on the Motorola Xoom.

By the end of the year, Honeycomb is likely to be on dozens of tablet devices.