Global cellphone market to fall 9 percent in 2009
updated 04:55 pm EST, Fri January 23, 2009
Global cellphone drop
After falling 10 percent to 295 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the same time period in 2007, worldwide cellphone sales are due to be 9 percent lower overall in 2009, says research from Strategy Analytics. The expected 9 percent decline is the first for an entire year since 2001, and is expected to be especially prevalent in the first half of the year, as customer spending is pared down due to the post-holiday season and the weakened economy.
The fourth quarter drop was the first indication of the upcoming trend, the SA analysts say, and the first time since the group kept track that the shipments were lower in the holiday buying season than third-quarter shipments. Back in 2001, the annual sales dropped by six percent.
A similar report from a different analyst and slightly different numbers was released back in December, though it predicted sales of smartphones would increase while entry-level and mid-range phone sales would plummet.
