fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the same quarter a year ago,
market research firm IDC said Wednesday.
For the full year, mobile phone vendors shipped a total of 1.18
billion units worldwide, IDC said, 3.5 percent more than the 1.14
billion units of 2007.
The company described the double-digit drop in mobile phone shipments
in the fourth quarter as an "unusual downturn," but said the first
half of 2009 would remain "very challenging."
"The fourth quarter was the perfect storm of factors to produce this
result," said Ramon Llamas, a senior research analyst with IDC.
"A combination of weak end-user demand, currency volatility, and
limited credit availability prevented the market from experiencing the
usual seasonal increase in shipments," he said.
Llamas said IDC expects the first half of 2009 to be "very challenging
as vendors and distributors grapple with clearing inventory.
No comments:
Post a Comment