Shift to 3G handsets accelerates as European mobile phone market polarizes around top 3 vendors in 1Q06, says IDC.

0 Comments | M2 Presswire, May, 2006

M2 PRESSWIRE-16 May 2006-IDC: Shift to 3G handsets accelerates as European mobile phone market polarizes around top 3 vendors in 1Q06, says IDC(C)1994-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE:15052006 LONDON - According to IDC's Western European Quarterly Mobile Devices Market Tracker, the Western European mobile phone market (consisting of traditional mobile phones and converged devices) maintained double-digit growth in the opening quarter of 2006 as shipments increased by 11 year on year to reach 40.7 million units, compared to 36.8 million in the corresponding quarter of 2005.

"Although mounting saturation in subscriber growth across Europe is increasingly inhibiting handset shipment growth, the market in 1Q06 matched the growth rate exhibited in the opening...