The worldwide mobile phone market took another step towards reaching one billion units shipped for the year, with a total of 254.9 million units shipped in the third quarter of 2006. According to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, worldwide shipments of mobile phones were up 7.9 percent from the previous quarter and up an impressive 21.0 percent from the same quarter a year ago.

"The strong growth in the third quarter was very comparable to the growth we saw in 3Q05, as the trend of vendors and carriers working to prep for the holiday season begins," says Ryan Reith, research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker. "New models are appearing on shelves, carrier marketing campaigns are everywhere, and the buzz around stylish phones are driving consumer awareness towards new devices."

With 3Q06 earnings results in, we have seen record performances from all of the top 5 vendors in the industry. These high numbers in shipments in the third quarter have allowed IDC to keep their forecast for 2006 intact, with the aim to reach nearly a billion units shipped for the year.

"Shipping nearly a billion units in a single year is a significant milestone, but just as important is the journey it takes to get there," says Ramon Llamas, research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker. "Much focus has been given to emerging markets, and rightly so. Emerging markets have presented tremendous opportunity for vendors to provide users with their first handsets, and some users may already be looking to upgrade to another phone. Similarly, replacement handsets are a popular option for those in mature markets, especially as new features such as music have gained momentum."

With the holidays approaching, we are seeing consumer's shift their aspirations from slim handsets to the world of mobile music. The portfolio of handsets from each of the top 5 vendors is now outfitted with a signature device that is designed for consumers who want music on the go, and these models are now rapidly gaining the traction we anticipated.

"Handsets that provide music functionality are now very visible in the industry. Mature markets are at a point where it is worthwhile for the carriers to launch these devices with strong marketing campaigns behind them, knowing that consumers are willing and ready to use their device as a music player as well as a phone," says Reith.

3Q 2006 vendor highlights

Nokia. The Finnish powerhouse once again exceeded expectations and set a new industry record by shipping 88.5 million units in the third quarter, surpassing their previous record by 4.8 million units. Double-digit sequential growth was evident in Europe, Asia/Pacific, and North America, with China being a key driver. The growth in China and Asia/Pacific underscores Nokia's emphasis on remaining the top seller in emerging markets. News usually surrounds Nokia's announcements of high-end devices, but the record number of shipments shows that Nokia continues to produce mass shipments of low-end devices equipped to suit the needs of those in emerging markets.

Motorola. Expectations were set high for Motorola in the third quarter, and while some expectations were not met, it should not be overlooked that this was another record-setting quarter . The company continues to excel in 2006 with its sixth straight quarter of growth near 40% or better. Motorola also offered more news on the expansion of the RAZR family, with the launch of the new KRZR and announcements of the RAZR MAXX and the RIZR to follow soon. Continued success from the Q was also a driver of shipments for Motorola in the converged mobile device space.

Samsung. Having spent the first half of the year approaching thirty million units shipped in a quarter, Samsung reached that milestone in 3Q06 and maintained a ten million units lead over the number four vendor, Sony Ericsson. The release of its 'Ultra-Edition' line, a series of slim and stylish devices, in Europe, along with shipment recovery in North America helped drive Samsung's performance in the quarter. Sony Ericsson. Celebrating its five year anniversary, the 50/50 venture reached a record shipment volume during the quarter. Having moved past LG Electronics for the number four position worldwide in 2Q06, the company extended its lead by more than three million units. In addition, the success of its mid- and high-priced devices, including its Cybershot-branded phones, helped lift ASPs higher than the previous quarter.

LG Electronics. In addition to reaching a new shipment record this quarter, LG also posted a return to profitability after two quarters of losses. Despite these gains, LG fell further behind the other leading vendors this quarter. North America was the primary beneficiary of its shipments, accounting for nearly half of the company's total volumes thanks in large part to the success of its Chocolate phone. Similarly, the company made gains in Europe and Korea.

About the market research report

IDC’s "Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker" offers detailed and timely information on the global mobile phone and converged mobile device market for device vendors, software developers, service providers, and component suppliers. It provides insightful analysis through quarterly market share data by region, vendors, form factors, air interfaces, operating systems, application platforms and camera enabled devices. It delivers a quarterly Excel pivot-table product that details the performance of the market's individual players.

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