WATERLOO, Ont. - Boosted by holiday sales, BlackBerry smartphone maker Research In Motion Ltd. (TSX:RIM) says net subscriber account additions for the fourth quarter will be 15 to 20 per cent higher than the 1.82 million forecast in December.
The total account base for the BlackBerry e-mail device is expected to be about 14 million at the end of the fiscal quarter on March 1, the Waterloo-based company said Thursday.
"BlackBerry smartphones proved to be a big hit throughout the holiday selling season and we're pleased to see RIM's business momentum continuing in the new year," Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM, said in a release.
"The seasonal slowdown in net subscriber account additions that we expected in the new year did not occur and our focused execution with partners has continued to produce strong results within both enterprise and consumer segments."
RIM continues to expect fourth-quarter revenue and earnings per share to be within ranges forecast in December.
Revenue is expected to be in the range of US$1.8 billion to $1.87 billion. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter are expected to be in the range of 66 to 70 cents per share diluted.
RIM will report its fourth-quarter financial results, including actual net subscriber account additions, on April 2.
