Mobile Phone Sales in 2003

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Statistics: Worldwide Sales of Mobile Terminals to End Users (Thousands of Units) in 2003s

Note: This table includes sales of integrated digital enhanced network (iDEN) phones and wireless local loop phones. It excludes shipments from original design manufacturers to original equipment manufacturers. Source: Gartner Dataquest (March 2004)

Quotes:

"The mobile handset industry rode the crest of a wave of robust replacement demand to realize record levels of sales to end-users for the first quarter," said Bryan Prohm, senior analyst with the mobile communications worldwide research group for Gartner. "Significant demand was recorded across all geographical regions during the quarter, and annualized sales trends based on these results suggests the market could be on pace for a double-digit rate increase for the full calendar year."

"In 2003, an explosion in the availability of color screen and camera phones is expected in mature markets, such as Western Europe, and we predicts that many customers will be tempted to replace their existing mobile terminals," said Ben Wood, principal analyst with the mobile communications group for Gartner in Europe . "Photo messaging, which Gartner terms 'disposable photography,' is expected to be the cornerstone service in mobile network operators' marketing campaigns throughout the year.

"The mobile terminals market in 2003 will be characterised by 'device diversity' as mobile terminal manufacturers launch a wide range of new handsets with features, such as gaming, music and video. However, the majority of worldwide sales will remain in the low-tier, low-function segment," said Wood.

Source: "Gartner Says Worldwide Mobile Phone Industry Experienced an 18 Percent Increase in Unit Sales in First Quarter of 2003," June 2, 2003

Worldwide mobile phone unit sales totaled 423.4 million units in 2002, a 6 percent increase from 2001, according to Dataquest Inc., a unit of Gartner, Inc. Fourth quarter worldwide mobile phone sales totaled 122.6 million units, an increase of 14 percent vs. the same period last year.

"Consumers embraced a variety of innovative handsets, especially those with color screens, rather than delaying replacement purchases because of an ongoing lack of compelling mobile data services,'" said Bryan Prohm, senior analyst with the Mobile Communications Worldwide research group for Gartner Dataquest. "'This is an encouraging trend, because as carriers and manufacturers determine how to better align devices with applications and services, the market may again prove ber than expected during 2003."

Source: " Gartner Dataquest Says Fourth Quarter Sales Lead Mobile Phone Market to 6 Percent Growth in 2002," March 10, 2003

Worldwide cable modem market shipments totaled more than 3 million units in the third quarter of 2002, a 19.4 percent increase from the same period last year, according to Dataquest Inc., a unit of Gartner, Inc. Worldwide cable modem shipments totaled 2.5 million units in the third quarter of 2001.

"North America continues to see b demand for cable broadband access services in the third quarter of 2002, and shipments of cable modems reflect this trend,'" said Patti Reali, principal analyst for Gartner Dataquest's worldwide Telecommunications group. "'U.S.-based vendors will start to see even more intense competition for the low-end, simple-functionality modems from the Asian-based manufacturers, and until the market launches advanced services that require more complex, higher-functionality CPE devices enabling home networking and other applications, prices will continue to fall," said Reali.

Source: "Gartner Dataquest Says Worldwide Cable Modem Market Grew 19 Percent in Third Quarter of 2002," December 5, 2002

"Worldwide mobile phone sales totaled nearly 399.6 million units in 2001, a decline of 3.2 percent from 2000 sales, according to Dataquest, Inc., a unit of Gartner, Inc. Worldwide mobile phone sales between 1996 and 2000 experienced a compound annual growth rate of close to 60 percent, but in 2001, for the first time in its history, the mobile phone industry suffered a drop in unit sales."

"The removal of prepaid subsidies supporting mobile terminal sales in historically high-growth markets like Western Europe and Latin America was a significant factor in the decline in handset sales during 2001,' said Bryan Prohm, senior analyst with the Mobile Communications Worldwide research group for Gartner Dataquest."

"A considerable bubble of unsold inventory from the fourth quarter of 2000 further depressed sales in key markets,' said Ann Liang, industry analyst with the Mobile Communications Worldwide research group for Gartner Dataquest. 'The distributors and carriers most exposed to the inventory overhang sought out the gray market. Consequently, the Asia/Pacific region, and in particular the Chinese market, experienced what was arguably the most active period of gray market importing of mobile terminals in several years."

Source: "Gartner Dataquest Says Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales in 2001 Declined for First Time in Industry's History," March 11, 2002