Blackberry increases subscriber base

Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the Blackberry, increased its subscriber numbers by 1.65 million in its third quarter. It has also increased users by reducing the cost of its email service. Sales on the day after Thanksgiving (which the US counts as the start of Christmas trading) broke the company’s one-day record.

The Canadian firm more than doubled its profit and underlined the lead the firm has over rival Palm, maker of the Treo, which this week posted a loss. In addition, RIM is beating off competition from Apple, whose iPhone went on sale in June and is benefiting from an increase in of devices with map functions and music players.

The group’s co-chief executive, Jim Balsillie, said we’re pleased with the performance of the business in the third quarter and the success we’re seeing in new markets and channels. The enterprise business continues to grow and we’re seeing new opportunities in new segments we are well-positioned to capitalise on.

RIM opened its first Blackberry-only retail store last week in a wealthy Detroit suburb with US cellphone wholesaler Wireless Giant and is also reported to be developing a touch-screen Blackberry with a retractable keyboard that is expected to be released in the first half of 2008.

The Blackberry was launched in 1999 and supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing and web browsing.

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