Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Technical analysis for shorts & longs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Johnny Canuck who wrote (38464)	11/26/2002 5:14:42 AM
From: Johnny Canuck	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 68978

Dow Jones Business News Third-Quarter Mobile-Phone Sales Rose 7.8% in Sign Industry Is Recovering Monday November 25, 10:52 pm ET LONDON -- Mobile-phone sales world-wide rose 7.8% for the third quarter from a year earlier, signaling the industry's rebound is well under way, according to Gartner Inc.'s Dataquest research unit. Mobile-phone sales to end users totaled 104.3 million units, exceeding expectations. Gartner said it expects demand to continue to rise during the fourth quarter and into next year. ADVERTISEMENT The research-and-advisory company said third-quarter sales exceeded 100 million for only the second time, as demand rose compared with the second quarter in each of the six geographical regions it tracks. For the first time, Nokia Corp. captured more than 50% of total sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, helped by strong demand for higher-end handsets in Western Europe. Nokia's sales rose 14% from a year earlier to 37.4 million phones, and its market share rose to 36% from 34%. Nokia's sales were helped by the start of an upgrade cycle in Europe that has users moving to higher-end models with color screens, said Ben Wood, senior analyst for Gartner Dataquest in Europe. Many of those upgrading now bought a Nokia as their first mobile phone during the boom of 2000 and are buying Nokia again, he said. Six months ago, Nokia looked to be stalled while Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT - News) , the No. 2 mobile-phone seller, appeared to be well-placed with strong sales and products. However, the Schaumburg, Ill., company's sales rose just 2.4%, as its T720 and C330 products were delayed and its important U.S. and Chinese markets became uncertain. Gartner said Motorola sold 15 million handsets. Ann Liang, a Gartner analyst in Taiwan, said Motorola's best chances to increase its market share are the markets of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia outside of China that use the technology known as global system for mobile communications. Samsung Electronics Co. continued its strong sales growth, with sales rising 52% to 11.1 million. Its market share increased to 11%, topping 10% for the first time. Siemens AG's sales rose 13% to 8.1 million, and it retained its No. 4 ranking with a 7.8% market share. The handset venture of Sony Corp. and Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson continued its sharp fall. Mr. Wood said Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications sold only a quarter more handsets than the sixth-placed firm, which he didn't name, and is at risk of falling out of the world's top five handset makers. The venture sold five million handsets, 43% less than the 8.8 million Sony and Ericsson sold separately a year earlier. The venture had a market share of 4.8%, compared with the 9.1% the partners enjoyed a year earlier, before they merged. Mr. Wood said some smaller sellers are making strong efforts at improving their position, including Panasonic, a brand of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. , which Mr. Wood said is making progress in Europe. China's TCL Communication Equipment Co. is enjoying powerful sales growth inside and outside its home market, and it could finish the year as the first company based in China among the top 10 handset makers, he said. -By Gren Manuel, Dow Jones Newswires; 44 20 7842 9279; gren.manuel@ dowjones.com