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1.53b handsets shipped in 2007

  • March 1st, 2008
  • 1:04 pm

Worldwide handset sales increased 16% to 1.153 billion units in 2007, driven by rising demand in emerging markets, says Gartner.

Nokia, the biggest phone vendor, increased its market share to 37.8%, up from three percentage points from a year earlier. In a disastrous last quarter, Motorola fell nearly ten points to 11.9% over the previous year.

Strong sales in China and India lifted Chinese handset supplier ZTE into top ten for the first time with a 1.2% market share. But the popularity of high-end BlackBerry and iPhone devices also put smartphone vendors RIM and Apple in the top ten. Taiwan’s BenQ, France’s Sagem and China-based Bird were the three displaced from the top group.

Gartner predicted growth to decline to 10% in 2008, with western Europe and North America contributing to just 30% of sales.

Gartner mobile devices research director Carolina Milanes said the strength of emerging market demand meant that handset sales were likely to be “relatively immune to a recession” in the US and western Europe.

   

 

XFMedia acquires Beijing Mobile Interactive

  • June 5th, 2007
  • 7:08 am

Chinese diversified financial and entertainment media company Xinhua Finance Media announced its acquisition of mobile service provider Beijing Mobile Interactive. Upon close of the transaction, expected to finalize on or prior to June 15, XFMedia will pay approximately U.S. $10 million in cash. According to XFMedia, the acquisition is intended to enable integration of mobile services with its existing media assets in an effort to market new interactive products and services. In addition to messaging, gaming and ringback distribution deals with operators China Mobile, China Unicom, China Netcom and China Telecom, Beijing Mobile Interactive boasts handset partnerships with manufacturers including Sony Ericsson and Bird.

“XFMedia intends to integrate M-in’s MVAS platform and mobile interactive capabilities with our existing media assets such as our high-quality business, entertainment, education and drama shows, allowing viewers to interact with the shows through text messaging,” said Xinhua Finance Media CEO Fredy Bush in a prepared statement. “XFMedia also plans to use M-in’s capabilities to offer mobile interactivity with its radio and print divisions. New revenue sources are expected to be created through marketing Q&A campaigns, and voting and commentary services for TV programs such as ‘Fortune China’ via text messaging, or by providing access to our instant financial news updates via WAP or IVR services.”