BlackBerry isn’t dead — yet.

Research in Motion said it added BlackBerry users during the quarter, defying skeptics who had expected the once-iconic smartphone maker to report its first-ever decline.

RIM counted 80 million subscribers worldwide, up from 78 million the last time it reported. The gain was also greater than the 1 million users it added in the previous quarter.

The consensus among RIM watchers was that the struggling company — once so popular its device was dubbed “CrackBerry” — would see a loss of customers when it reports second-quarter results tomorrow.

The company has lost market share to rivals Apple and Google, and analysts aren’t convinced there is room for a third player.

“It’s stunning,” said analyst Colin Gillis with BGC Partners.

RIM shares jumped yesterday almost 5 percent off an all-time low to close at $6.60.

RIM has stayed afloat with the help of hard-core corporate clientele and by reaching into emerging markets.

Still, profits are under pressure as the company slashed prices to sell its phones. The average selling price of a BlackBerry is about $200, according to analyst estimates.

The iPhone 5, released last week, costs more than that to make, and Apple can make more than $600 profit on its most expensive model, according to estimates from researcher IHS.

RIM’s fortunes are now dependent upon its next-generation BlackBerry 10 phones, which the company said it would launch in the first quarter 2013. CEO Thorsten Heins, speaking at a developers conference yesterday, showed off the new software.