by Playfuls Staff |
24th October 2006
Buyers of mobile phones will snap up a record 1 billion mobile phones this year, according to a study published Monday by research company IDC.
The study predicted [more] record sales for all five of the world's leading cellphone makers - Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG - thanks to strong growth in emerging markets.
Mature markets are also experiencing strong demand for replacement handsets as consumers opt for new features such as music phones and email-enabled devices.
The report said that a record total of 254.6 million cellphones were sold in the third quarter and predicted an even stronger holiday season with cellphones appearing high on people's wish lists.
"Shipping almost a billion units in a single year is a significant milestone," said Ramon Llamas, research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker.
"Emerging markets have presented tremendous opportunity for vendors to provide users with their first handsets, and some users may already be looking to upgrade to another phone," Llamas said. "Similarly, replacement handsets are a popular option for those in mature markets, especially as new features such as music have gained momentum."
© 2006 DPA
