BlackBerry Curve Outsells iPhone 3G in Q1

Market research group NPD reported on Monday that RIM has managed to unseat Apple at the head of the smartphone class in Q1 of 2009. The BlackBerry Curve moved ahead of the iPhone 3G to the #1 position.

NPD attributes at least some of this to a "buy-one-get-one" promotion by Verizon Wireless. It attributes more of this to the fact that the iPhone 3G is on AT&T only vs. the Curve.

Despite the criticism over the touch-screen BlackBerry Storm, it still slots in at #3 on the list, according to NPD. Here's the top 5:

1. RIM BlackBerry Curve (all 83XX models)
2. Apple iPhone 3G (all models)
3. RIM BlackBerry Storm
4. RIM BlackBerry Pearl (all models, except flip)
5. T-Mobile G1

The quarter to really watch will be Q3, after the new iPhone comes out. That should be interesting.