The global appetite for multi-functioning mobile phones is showing no signs of slowing down, a research group found Thursday.
According to Framingham, Mass.-based IDC's quarterly report on mobile phones, converged mobile device shipments increased by 7.5 percent in the first quarter of this year from the previous quarter, and up nearly 68 percent from a year ago to 18.9 million units.
"In most mature markets, the first quarter of the new year is usually characterized by a sequential decrease in shipments. However, as a market with more growth on the way, the converged mobile device market was able to post sequential growth as well as a sizable year-over-year gain," said Ramon Llamas, a research analyst with the group's mobile markets team. "The worldwide market has broadened in terms of the number of vendors who have entered into this space, and deepened as far as the kinds of devices coming out for consumers, enterprise users, and fans of multimedia. The lure of new products combined with heightened competition among the vendors, should continue to drive the smartphone market to new heights."
Nokia continues to lead the market with over 43 percent of the total global share, followed by Panasonic with 10 percent of the overall market, while NEC in third place.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
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