RIM now has more than seven million Blackberry users on its books

Profits for the three months to 2 December rose to $176m (�89.7m), or 93 cents a share, compared with $120m at the same time last year.

Revenues jumped 49% to $835.1m after sales rose by more than 50%.

RIM also predicted that its performance during the current three-month period would be even stronger as consumers continued to snap up its products.

It added it looked forward to "continuing momentum" after third quarter sales rose by more than 50%, saying it expected to sign up another 950,000 to 975,000 subscribers in the three months to February.

The Canadian firm said it signed up around 875,000 Blackberry accounts between October and December - beating its forecasts of around 800,00 sign-ups and taking its customer base up to seven million.

Looking ahead the group said it expected unveil fourth quarter profits of between 92 and 99 cents per share, with revenues coming in at $900m to $940m.