BlackBerry today reported a quarterly loss and forecast an operating loss in the current quarter as results came in way below analysts' expectations, sending its shares tumbling .

The smartphone maker reported a net loss of $84 million, or 16 cents a share, in the fiscal first quarter ended June 1st. That compared with a year-earlier loss of $518 million, or 99 cents a share.

Excluding one-time items, Ontario-based BlackBerry reported a loss from continuing operations of $67 million, or 13 cents a share, on revenue of $3.1 billion. Analysts, on average, expected earnings of 6 cents a share, on revenue of $3.36 billion.

Shipments rose in the quarter, but the company gave no breakdown on how many of its smartphone sales came from the new BB10 devices. It is betting the new phones will help it win back some of the market share lost to aggressive competitors.

BlackBerry shares fell 17.2 per cent to $11.98 in early US trading.

Reuters