The makers of BlackBerry, the handheld email device, saw off concerns that a spate of recent network outages would hit sales when it revealed higher than expected new subscribers.

Research in Motion, the Canadian manufacturer of the popular device, said that net new subscribers for its fourth quarter, to the end of February, should total 2.14 million — 20 per cent above its own previous forecast and above analysts 1.88 million expectations. The group’s total customer base should now total 14 million by the end of the quarter.

The update — ahead of RIM’s fourth quarter figures in April — assuaged analyst concerns about a potential hit to subscriptions from recent network outages.

This month the network failed for the second time in a year, leaving about eight million Americans without the use of their device. Users were temporarily unable to send and receive messages or browse the internet.

Analysts had warned that the failures could lead companies to consider competitors to the BlackBerry.

Richard Windsor at Nomura, said: “Strong subscriber acquisitions in the last three months ... should help offset reliability fears surrounding the BlackBerry email system.”

Traditionally a corporate device favoured by bankers and City workers, BlackBerry is now busy forging into the consumer market. The group has launched its products in an array of colours, including pink, and added services such as music players, memory cards and cameras.

In the group’s second-quarter, last year, new subscriptions to the service from individuals outstripped those from companies in the North American market for the first time.

Despite the higher than expected subscriber numbers fourth quarter revenue is expected to be within the previously forecast range of $1.80 billion to $1.87 billion.

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