Global Handset Shipments Fell at Fastest Rate Ever, Strategy Analytics Says
Source/Type: Reported News

May 1, 2009... Market research firm Strategy Analytics reports that global mobile handset shipments plunged 13 percent year-over-year, to reach 245 million units in Q1 2009, the fastest sales decline in the 27-year history of the industry. The company cites de-stocking by cautious retailers and a worldwide economic downturn as the main reasons for the fall. Alex Spektor, Analyst at Strategy Analytics said, “Our records indicate that Q1 2009 represented the fastest ever decline in annual shipment growth since the modern cellphone industry began in 1983."

Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, commented, "Shipment growth contracted for all the top five major vendors, forcing some of them, such as Nokia, to rein in costs and slash thousands of jobs. However, one bright spot was found among the smartphone specialists. Apple, for example, more than doubled its volumes year-over-year due to healthy demand for its wildly popular 3G iPhone." Samsung was the top performer among the big five vendors during Q1 of 2009, and its market share reached a record high of 19 percent. In one of the only bright spots in the industry, Apple exceeded expectations in shipping 3.8 million iPhones during the quarter. Company News Release

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