Global Handsets Up 15% in Q2, Says Strategy Analytics

According to the latest research from
Strategy Analytics, global mobile handset shipments grew a healthy 15
percent year-over-year, to reach 297 million units in Q2 2008. Motorola
surprised and held off LG to maintain the third spot in our global
vendor rankings.

Bonny Joy, Analyst at Strategy Analytics
said, "Global handset shipments rose 15 percent annually, to 297
million units during Q2 2008. Despite much economic gloom, handset
sales remain robust in emerging markets and the worldwide growth rate
is, in fact, higher than it was at any time during 2007."

Neil
Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "Motorola exceeded
expectations and held off LG to maintain the third spot in our global
vendor rankings during the second quarter of 2008. Motorola's decline
in shipments, at minus 21 percent annually, was its slowest rate since
Q1 2007. These represent tentative signs of recovery and if Motorola
can slash costs and refresh its handset portfolio over the coming
months, then a return to profitability in 2009 is possible."

Other findings from Strategy Analytics' Q2 2008 Global Handset Market Share Update report include:

-
Apple's global handset shipments fell sharply, from 1.7 million units
in Q1 2008 to 0.7 million in Q2 2008. Apple's worldwide marketshare
stood at a tiny 0.2% in Q2 2008. We forecast Apple to rebound to 1.1%
share in Q3 2008 as shipments spike from the new, cheaper iPhone 2.0;

-
Total annual growth for the worldwide mobile handset market reached 15%
in the second quarter of 2008. Contrary to popular perception, and
despite much economic gloom, the global handset market is growing
faster than at any time during 2007.

Global Mobile Handset Shipments and Marketshare - Top 5 Vendors