Sorry Apple: BlackBerry UK's most popular smartphone in 2010

Apple’s iPhone may steal the headlines when it comes to flashy apps and celebrity fans, but when it comes to cold, hard sales figures, it still isn’t the leader of the pack. That lofty position is reserved for RIM’s BlackBerry range, which stayed one step ahead of the smartphone competition when it came to sales in the UK in 2010.

December 2010 saw RIM’s handsets reach a record high smartphone marketshare, with 36 percent of smartphones in use in the UK having BlackBerry branding.

“December was a record month for us – with around 11 BlackBerrys sold every minute”, said Stephen Bates, MD for Research In Motion UK. “The strength of sales in 2010 confirms BlackBerry’s leadership position in the UK smartphone market.

“This is highlighted in particular by our growth in the burgeoning pre-paid market. BlackBerry smartphones are now the number-one prepaid smartphones in the UK and we achieved the position of UK number one smartphone brand in 2010.

“Our consumers are attracted by applications such as BlackBerry Messenger, which experienced a 500 per cent increase in usage last year with currently 33 million users to date worldwide. Looking ahead to 2011, the forthcoming BlackBerry PlayBook exemplifies how we are continually striving to anticipate and meet the needs of our ever-expanding customer base with highly innovative products.”

“Looking ahead to 2011, the forthcoming BlackBerry PlayBook exemplifies how we are continually striving to anticipate and meet the needs of our ever-expanding customer base with highly innovative products.”

2010 was a busy year for BlackBerry releases, with the Torch 9800 and Bold 9780 hitting shelves, and 2011 looks set to be just as prolific, with the Storm 3 already being teased ahead of MWC 2011. And, the PlayBook tablet of course.