With most analysts and investors holding the opinion that the Waterloo, Ontario-based BlackBerry smartphone-maker Research In Motion (RIM) is fairly well-poised for a robust quarter, the earnings and revenue forecasts recently issued by the company have sent around a wave of disappointment for many!

The company's outlook, which fell short of expectations of the investors, resulted in a 5 percent dip in the RIM share on the Nasdaq in after-hours trading on Thursday; and its shares reported a more than 1 percent drop on Friday morning.

The company that has posted 53 percent revenue growth and 33 percent increase in profit, and has forecast 'blue skies', apparently has a signature bearing of its own, despite the downturn and the escalated competition especially from the new Apple iPhone and the Palm Pre.

The difficult economic conditions notwithstanding RIM has kept moving forth with additions to its subscriber base; and has successfully branched out into the consumer market thereby reducing the dependence on corporate customers.

Saying that the company has largely strengthened its position as the foremost smartphone maker, analyst Duncan Stewart - of DSAM consulting in Toronto - has called RIM shares "a longer-term buy." Noting that RIM's subscriber base of nearly 3.8 million is "particularly impressive," Duncan added: "So far, in a period of incredible consumer weakness, their growth has continued to be very strong."