Apparently King E wants its #2 US market share back - and is counting on cdmaOne phones to do it....
INTERVIEW-Ericsson mobile phones results better Q4
STOCKHOLM, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Swedish telecoms equipment maker Ericsson , the world's third largest maker of
mobile phones, said on Friday its new handset models would lead to stronger fourth-quarter results compared to
the second quarter and improve earnings in 2000.
"We will see a stronger fourth-quarter result and a clear improvement in operating margins," Consumer Products
division head Johan Siberg told Reuters, comparing the figures to the second quarter. "We've got quite an
aggressive and optimistic view that it will have a strong impact next year."
Ericsson posted a 32 percent drop in second-quarter earnings, hurt by restructuring costs and weak sales in
Consumer Products, which fell 4.2 percent to 10.37 billion crowns, as it lagged competitors with older models. It
will release third quarter figures on October 22.
But the launch of a new range of mobile phones, including the slim T28 mobile, is expected to improve results for
Ericsson from the fourth quarter forwards.
Siberg said launches of the handsets in the United States -- which overtook China as Ericsson's largest market in
the first half -- would lead to growth in the U.S. handset market.
"We are going to grow (in the U.S.). We want to get back in the second seat quickly," Siberg said, adding that
this may be possible next year when new products catering for various mobile phone standards, such as CDMA,
were launched there.
Siberg raised his forecast for the global mobile phone market to 260-270 million units in 1999 from previous
estimates of 240-260 million units.
Ericsson shares were up 4.5 crowns at 269.5 crowns in afternoon trade in a steady market |
