BlackBerry subscriber growth dips

A extra 3.8 million BlackBerry addicts swelled RIM's coffers in the three months to May 30, the firm's financial report revealed on Thursday.

The total BlackBerry subscriber base is now about 28.5 million. The rate of growth actually dipped slightly however, from 3.9 million net new subscribers in the three months prior.

Competition in the smartphone market is only set to intensify in the next few months, with more Android-based devices hitting shops and the continued resurgence of Palm.

Profits at the Canadian firm were up 33 per cent on the same period a year earlier, to US$643m. Revenues were up 53 per cent to US$3.42bn.

Wall Street didn't like the RIM's revenue forecasts for the next quarter however, and sent its stock tumbling almost 7 per cent, although it recovered by the close of trading. ®