In a statement emailed to PocketGamer.biz reacting to Kantar's numbers, the company suggests it still holds third place in Britain, dismissing research claiming Microsoft's Windows Phone has edged ahead.
The numbers game
"Kantar Worldpanel's statistics are based on survey research as opposed to actual sales figures," detailed BlackBerry in a statement, issued by PR agency Good Relations.
"Sales data from Gfk for the January-March period inclusive shows that BlackBerry's market share in the UK is 10 percent."
It's Kantar's view that BlackBerry is fast falling behind its smartphone rivals Apple, Google and Microsoft not only in the UK, but also across the US and Europe.
The firm's research suggests third-place rival Windows Phone is proving particularly popular with first time buyers.
BlackBerry, however, points to the "positive response" the new keyboard-equipped BlackBerry Q10 has received in the UK.
Sell-out
Indeed, despite no major marketing push, UK retailer Selfridges has proclaimed the device as its fastest selling consumer device ever in its London, Birmingham and Manchester stores.
"Selfridges' initial stock of the BlackBerry Q10 sold out in stores within two hours," said the store in a statement.
"Stock of the BlackBerry Q10 is being continually delivered on the hour, every hour to keep up with demand."
BlackBerry Q10
The Q10's launch comes several months after the touchscreen-only BlackBerry Z10 hit UK stores, with 1 million devices shipped globally in February alone according to BlackBerry's numbers.
The firm concluded, "We're confident of maintaining and strengthening our position as the third most popular smartphone in the UK market."
