The brainchild of the Canadian company “Research in Motion” (RIM), the Blackberry sub-company encompasses a range of mobile e-mail and smartphone handsets. First launched in 1999, the Blackberry handsets have enjoyed years of success with their mobile handsets, particularly in the business world.

2002 saw the release of their first smartphone handset, the 857, which was a mobile phone that supported the needs of the modern professional, pioneering features such as push e-mail, as well as providing top quality telephone, text message capabilities and internet services. Their trademark feature is the QWERTY keyboard, which was first launched on the 857 and is still one of the primary reasons people opt for the Blackberry models.

Blackberry specialises in push e-mail and as a result the main focus of the company is on offering e-mail services that trump their competitors offerings. Since the original 857, Blackberry have improved their technology and strengths and are now offering a range of additional functions that include media playing, cameras, apps such as Facebook, Google Talk and Blackberry messenger, leaving the Blackberry handset users with plenty to keep them occupied in both a business and recreational environment. Blackberry are so loved by consumers that their handsets are often seen in the hands of celebrities such as Christiano Ronaldo, Lady GaGa and Paris Hilton.

Blackberry supports their colour displays, QWERTY keyboards and other features with their own operating system, the RIM Blackberry OS. During the first three quarters of 2010, Blackberry took 17% of the smartphone market and 14.8% worldwide, putting them at the fifth spot of most popular device manufacturer.