The NPD Group, a leader in wireless industry market research, released their “Smartphone Market Update” report which is based on US Consumer sales of smartphones. And once again, RIM proves to be the leader. The NPD Group attributed the rise to a “buy-one-get-one” sale by Verizon Wireless, which helped RIM’s numbers increase by fifteen percent to an almost fifty percent of the smartphone market in this first quarter, as Apple’s iPhone and Palm sales decreased each by ten percent. Another factor is that the BlackBerry Curve is sold by more than one carrier. And the numbers prove that while there are newer BlackBerry smartphones, and even more stylish looking Curve family members, the 83xx series is still the beloved and preferred BlackBerry Curve.

The top-ten best-selling smartphones for this first quarter are:

1. RIM BlackBerry Curve (all 83XX models)
2. Apple iPhone 3G (all models)
3. RIM BlackBerry Storm
4. RIM BlackBerry Pearl (all models, except flip)
5. T-Mobile G1

The Curve is number one, with the  Storm and Pearl taking the #3 and #4 slot.  Back in the first quarter of 2008, smartphones were 17% of handset sales in comparison to the first quarter of 2009 in which the smartphone sales are now 23%. Between Business and the Consumer markets, it has truly been a great quarter for RIM.

[via: Engadget & NPD Group, Inc]

Seems this will be a double confirmed rumor as CrackBerry has just posted a similar screenshot! An accessory for the BlackBerry 9630 has shown up in Telus’ inventory system. What does this mean? Well according to our tipster this means that Telus is starting to get ready for the launch of the 9630 and that we should expect to see it within the next couple of months. This is awesome news for Telus cusotmers!! Stay tuned for more details when they arrive…

_{Thanks, WDX416}

Hi Stormies!

Kevin over at Crackberry has just let us know that OS 4.7.0.132 has been leaked for the BlackBerry Storm 9530!  It’s nice to see they have been keeping the updates coming!  I know that with every release, Verizon users are groaning because they have yet to see an official update.  But I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that an official update will come for Big Red sooner than later.

As is the case with any beta release, please do not attempt to install this update unless you know what you are doing, to prevent any unwanted damage to your baby.   Carriers do not support beta OS installs, so any problems you may encounter are your own to solve.  However, we are always here to help if you need it!

Click here to download the update and follow the standard process to install it.

Thanks again Kevin!!

Interesting news has come from Bloomberg, re: Research in Motion, Ltd (NASDAQ GS:RIMM) Squeeze On Suppliers. RIMM has experienced revenue growth this last quarter, and has always maintained a focus not only on growth, but the margins as well, especially as it has broken more into the comsumer market from the corporate side of the spectrum. Investors were worried as RIM went from being the Business Phone of choice, to reaching out to a consumer based market as well, appealing to the consumers in the smart phone industry.

Gross margin is anticipated to around 44 percent, it currently is at forty percent. Investors have been concerned with the recent numbers. RIMM’s transitioning from the high spending businesses to a much more costly consumer smart phone market has shrunk the margin 10.7 percent.

The company is predicting and looking forward to a rebound in rise of margins this quarter.

Co-Chief Executive Officer Jim Balsille of Research in Motion Ltd stated that the Blackberry maker is lowering supply costs as the expanding growth will give them enough of a pull to push for deals in this recession. He shared during an interview in Waterloo, Ontario, that what makes an important customer is being a company strong in growth in a challenging environment. He said it is probably assisting the company with being able to strike better deals from the companies manufacturing the equipment for the phones.

With smaller expenses and new sources of revenue, such as the App World Application Store, it might be what RIM needs to bring up the margins and rise again. Some of the manufactures have also pushed back on their suppliers to help with the costs.

In a market experiencing the worse global recession since World War 2, businesses must meet the changes in order to thrive.

RIM’s main five suppliers make up 90 percent of production costs. It’s five main suppliers are Elcoteq, SE; Jabil Circuit Inc.; Marvell Technology Group, Ltd.; Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc.; and Qualcomm Inc.

[via: Bloomberg]

CrackBerry has shown us the first live pictures of the heavely rumored BlackBerry Niagara. In case you don’t know what “Niagara” is it’s going to be the CDMA Bold/Curve combonation featuring a CDMA/EVDO Rev. A Radio with 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS and of course a full QWERTY keyboard. Apparently RIM might have cut plans to include Wi-Fi in this bad boy. The Niagara looks to be a mix of both the BlackBerry Bold and Curve 8900 “Javelin” to swing a bit of both worlds in there.

Two questions: Will RIM call this the Bold 9630? and who wants one even without Wi-Fi?

[Source]

This one has me excited because I’ve always been a fan of my 8830 World Edition even though its been replaced by several newer models. Boy Genius got new details about the rumored BlackBerry Niagara, which in the past was rumored to be called Bold 9030 or 8930. Well it’s not going to be either according to one of BGR’s sources, the BlackBerry code-named Niagara will be modeled 9630 and seems it will pack tons of stuff except Wi-Fi. The Niagara is gurentueed to be a World Edition BlackBerry featuring CDMA EV-DO with Rev. A, Quad-band GSM with EDGE for roaming, 3.2 megapixel camera (with possibly a camera-less model), and OS 4.7.1 (maybe even 5.0 depending on the release date). Also the browser should be a little more updated to support Javescript 1.6 (that’s a little better)… As for a release date the source could not confirm that but with any luck at all you will see it around May or June on Verizon and possibly a few others? ;-)

We just received a tip that an upcoming BlackBerry Storm OS will introduce better finger movements for copy/pasting and selecting text. In the picture above you see the little box which you can drag along to highlight text. It’s quite a good idea!! We can’t tell you just yet what OS this will appear in however expect it soon at the rate of all these beta leaks. Using the box to slide your finger on the screen it makes it a lot easier to select text and copy/paste things. This little box at first reminded me of the hover on the iPhone, however it does not show the words magnified. Regardless it’s a great addition to the BlackBerry Storm and will for sure come in handy!

Here’s a video so you under.. Forgive me trying to operate camera and Storm at the same time…

As always stay tuned for more details…

_{If you have a great BlackBerry tip and would like to keep it confidential please use our secure tip form.}

Great news has arrived for those CDMA users in the house. A leaked document shows that three new CDMA BlackBerry models will be launching in the first half of 2009. These code-named models include “Niagara” the CDMA BlackBerry Bold 9030, “Jupiter” the CDMA BlackBerry Curve 8900, and “Apex” the CDMA BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230. Here’s the best part for the CDMA ones they are expected to launch on the major 4 (Verizon, Sprint, Bell and TELUS). Also reported is “Magnum” the 3G HSPA version of the Curve 8900 (9220)., “Pluto” the touchscreen BlackBerry Bold 9900, and possbily a Slider Storm and new refreshed Peral lineup. Refer to the image above to rough announcement dates. So it looks like it will be a great 2009 and we can’t wait for WES 2009.

[via TmoNews]

More Rogers/Fido leaks have arrived today. Looks like BlackBerry will be coming to Fido between Febuary to April 2009! Fido will be lauching three BlackBerry models in 2009. It includes BlackBerry Pearl Flip 82xx, Pearl 8110 and wait for it… Curve 8900. No pricing is known at this time but stay tuned when we get some details…

[via BBNews]

I promised myself I wouldn’t be writing any news today, however some big news has broken! A small Christmas present to all BlackBerry addicts. News has broken that Rogers Wireless will be picking up two new BlackBerry smartphones in early 2009. First one will be 3G/Wi-Fi packing version of the BlackBerry Storm. This 3G version of the Storm will be modeled the 9520 and should see a price point of $199 with three year term. This will make it interesting for both Bell and TELUS who are currently offering it for $249 with three year term. Rogers will also be introducing the 3G BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8200 with a secondary camera for video calling along with GPS, Wi-Fi and 3G support. No pricing is known for that model just yet. So anyways for now this is leaked information for now. Nothing confirmed officially by Rogers. Stay tuned!!

[via HowardForums]