42pc of BlackBerrys go to consumers

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) said last week 42 per cent of its customer base is consumer.

It said that sales in the consumer market are increasing rapidly. Business sales are also growing, but at a slower rate.

RIM has launched two new handsets recently pitched at the consumer market – the BlackBerry Storm, available in the UK on Vodafone exclusively, and 8900 Curve, codenamed ‘Javelin’, which was released in Germany on T-Mobile this month and is set to launch in the UK through Carphone Warehouse before Christmas.

RIM director of software product management David Heit said: “We have a wide range and choice now for any member of the family. Sales on the consumer side are growing, and they may over take business sales mainly because consumers are becoming more aware of our brand as we increase out product range so we are attractive to a wider segment.

“This doesn’t mean business sales are not growing, they are but just at a slower speed than consumer at the moment.”

RIm sold 6.1 million BlackBerry handsets in the second quarter, globally.