Canadian mobile equipment maker Research In Motion shipped around 14.9 million BlackBerry smartphones in the quarter, taking the full-year total to 52.3 million, or 43 percent more than in fiscal 2010. The company reported revenues up 1 percent to USD 5.6 billion in its fiscal fourth quarter to 26 February versus the year-earlier period. The revenue breakdown was approximately 81 percent for devices, 16 percent for service and 3 percent for software and other revenue. RIM's income from operations grew to USD 1.21 billion in the fourth quarter from USD 1.01 billion in the year-earlier period, and net profit to USD 934 million from USD 710 million. For the full fiscal year, the company reported revenues up 33 percent to USD 19.9 billion and net profit up 47 percent to USD 3.4 billion. Its earnings per share stood at USD 6.34. RIM said it expects its earnings per share to rise to over USD 7.50 in fiscal 2012. First quarter gross margin is anticipated at around 41 percent on USD 5.2 billion to USD 5.6 billion of revenue, and USD 1.47-USD 1.55 earnings per share. The guidance reflects a mix shift towards lower ASP handsets in the first quarter and increased investment in R&D and sales and marketing related to RIM's PlayBook tablet and QNX-based platform initiatives. The PlayBook is due to launch in the US and Canada on 19 April.
