Worldwide Mobile Phone Market Grew 14% in 2005

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

6:45 am on February 14, 2006 | Category: Business, Mobile Devices

New research from iSuppli suggests that approximately 812.5 million mobile phones were shipped to end users around the world last year, a 14% increase over the 713 million shipments in 2004.

This mind-boggling number makes even the computer industry look small, with a mere 208.6 million PC shipments last year.

In the fourth quarter alone, a total of 241.5 million handsets were sold, slightly higher than the 239 million units that iSuppli had previously predicted.

In terms of market share, Nokia remained well out in front selling 265 million phones and holding an impressive 32.6% of the worldwide market. Motorola, meanwhile, made the biggest gains with a 39.7% increase in shipments, and 18% market share.

In its report, iSuppli predicted a smaller but still formidable market increase in the coming year, with total cell phone shipments somewhere in the range of 850 million.