WATERLOO, Ont. — BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. posted preliminary third-quarter results Thursday and said that net profits hit US$176 million as sales climbed 49 per cent.

The Waterloo, Ont.-based company, which reports in U.S. dollars, said sales hit $835.1 million in the quarter, up from $560.6 million in the same period last year, with about 875,000 BlackBerry subscriber accounts added in the three months ended Dec. 2.

Earnings amounted to 93 cents per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected, on average, earnings of 92 cents per share.

Excluding a regular stock-option expense of $3.6 million, preliminary adjusted net income was $179.6 million, or 95 cents per share diluted...

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