SMARTPHONES TO LEAD 2010 GROWTH IN MOBILE MARKET

Research suggests that the recession inflicted a 1 percent drop in the mobile market but Gartner are predicting the the market will expand by up to 13 percent by the end of 2010.

The 1 percent drop broke an impressive growth year-on-year but research analysts are positive on the forecast for 2010 and have increased their estimate for 2010 growth from 9% back in December.

Carolina Milanesi at Gartner said:
"Sales will return to low-double-digit growth, but competition will continue to put a strain on vendors' margins."

In 2010 smartphone sales are expected to rise rapidly as an estimated 46 per cent in sales which will mean over 250 million smartphone handsets will sell.

Ms Milanesi noted that Nokia will struggle to hold onto its current market share:
"[Nokia's] very strong mid-tier portfolio will help it hold market share, but its ongoing weakness at the high end of the portfolio will hurt its share of market value."

by Richard Armitage