IPhone Popularity Spurs Blackberry Sales

RIM has benefited from Apple Inc.'s introduction of the iPhone in June because it brought attention to smart phones, and more people are starting to use them, said Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek.

"People are starting to realize, 'Why should I buy a Razr when I can buy a BlackBerry or an iPhone?' I think the iPhone was the single biggest blessing RIM ever had," Misek said.

The Waterloo, Ontario-based company earned $412.5 million, or 72 cents per share in its fourth quarter, which ended March 1, up from a profit of $187.4 million, or 33 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue jumped to $1.88 billion from $930 million.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, expected a profit of 70 cents per share on sales of $1.86 billion.

U.S.-traded RIM shares rose $5.46, almost 5 percent, to $121.25 in after-hours trading Wednesday after closing at $115.79.

After enjoying years of success in the corporate market, RIM has targeted the consumer market with push e-mail software that allows customers to access their e-mail on their wireless devices in real time.

"It's much more of a mainstream thing," co-CEO Jim Balsillie said on a conference call with analysts.

Balsillie said RIM hasn't seen any signs of a slowdown in its business because of a slowing U.S economy.