RIM off target after Bold delay

Blackberry maker Research In Motion has missed analysts' profit forecasts after delaying the release of its new Bold phone.

The Bold is already available in Europe and Canada but no in the US.

Even so, net profits rose 73% to $495 million (£269.7 million) as the company continues to move from beyond its business-customer base.

Analysts say there is much pent-up demand for the Bold, which RIM is billing as an answer to the Apple iPhone.

A faster version of the BlackBerry email phone, it will be sold in the US through telecoms group AT&T from next month, almost two months after its European release.

About 40% of BlackBerry customers are now non-business users.

In the past quarter, Vodafone's US partner Verizon Wireless reduced the price tag on the BlackBerry Pearl to $79 from $99. RIM is also working on a version of the Pearl with a flip cover, the most popular style with consumers.