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BlackBerry smartphones are the top devices used for browsing the internet in the Middle East, beating the Apple iPhone as well as popular Nokia models, new research has showed.

California-based mobile analytics firm Motally found that most people across the Middle East browse the internet using the BlackBerry 8520 (18 percent) handset.

The iPhone came in second with 10 percent, but BlackBerry took the third and fourth rankings again with their 8900 (8 percent) and 9000 (6 percent) models. The Nokia E71 represented only 5 percent.

The Middle East was one of the few regions in the world where BlackBerry has an advantage over the iPhone, which was ranked as the top device in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania in the same report.  

The figures are based on website traffic data that was collected using Motally's patent-pending technology, with the firm clarifying that the monthly report looked at the handsets that generated the most pageviews.

While their research is only indicative of top handsets that are used to browse mobile websites, it does throw some light on preferred smartphone brands and models in the Middle East.

While the iPhone dominated in more developed markets, the BlackBerry 8520 came out on top in both the Middle East and South America and the BlackBerry 8900 trumped in Africa.