We all know Blackberry’s popularity grows substantially each year. It’s becoming as much a staple in a teenager’s quick typing hands as it is in the hands of your average CEO. In the wake of growing competition from Google’s Android platform and Apple’s iPhone, its popularity and ubiquity has stemmed from its almost untouchable security features and email capabilities.

But have you ever wondered how many devices RIM has shipped out to date? They cover almost every continent and have partnerships with almost every major carrier worldwide (both CDMA and GSM alike).

Today RIM released their 1st quarter results and the numbers are staggering. Below are some of the key highlights:

• Revenues are up 24% over the same quarter last year to 4.24 Billion dollars.
• Earnings per share increased 41% year over year to $1.38
• Blackberry smartphone shipments grew more than 43% over the same quarter last year to 11.2 million and RIM shipped its 100 millionth Blackberry smartphone during the quarter.
• Blackberry subscriber account base grew approximately 60% over the prior year to 46 million, with 4.9 million net new subscriber accounts added in Q1.

Co-Ceo Jim Balsillie was quoted saying:

“RIM achieved significant earnings growth and shipped a record 11.2 million devices during the first quarter, including its 100 millionth BlackBerry smartphone. We continue to be focused on growing our business globally and we believe that the range of exciting new Blackberry products being released in the coming months will create significant opportunities to accelerate RIM’s growth in the second half of the fiscal year.”

We are all well aware of the “exciting new products” to come as most have leaked online already. Good to see RIM is doing well in the face of iPhone adversity.

Read the full press release via RIM here.