Q1 2006 mobile phone sales likely to exceed Q1 2005 sales by 20%

Preliminary data indicates Q1 2006 sales of mobile phones will be up 20% or more over Q1 2005 as the Chinese new year becomes more significant and Christmas campaigns in many other markets are extended, Gartner said. In Q4 2005, the mobile phone market remained strong with sales exceeding 235 mln units. Gartner analysts say that based on preliminary data for the first two months of 2006, there will be a drop in Q1 2006 over Q4 2005 of 5-8%. Gartner isn't changing its full year outlook of 10% to 15% growth from the 817 mln mobile phones it estimates were sold in 2005.