Boston, MA - January 30, 2006 -- Global mobile phone shipments grew 19 percent year-over-year, to reach a record 810 million units during 2005, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics. Despite moderate industry-wide component shortages, fourth quarter volume reached an impressive 245 million units, as described in the newly published "Q4 2005 Global Handset Market Share Update report."

Neil Mawston, Associate Director of the Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) service at Strategy Analytics said, "2005 was the year of the emerging market. Booming demand in the Southern Hemisphere, in regions such as India and Africa, drove global mobile phone sales 19 per cent higher year-over-year. Emerging markets accounted for one half of total worldwide sales in 2005."

Chris Ambrosio, Director of the Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) service, added, "Concerns about moderate component shortages at Nokia, Motorola, BenQ-Siemens and others, failed to significantly impact total demand during the final quarter of 2005. Looking ahead to 2006, we expect 930 million mobile phones to be shipped worldwide. The iconic one billion total will be surpassed in 2007 if emerging first-time buyers continue to surge and replacement rates in mature markets, such as North America, can be sustained."

Other findings from Strategy Analytics' Q4 2005 Global Handset Market Share Update include:

- Motorola achieved a healthy 18 percent global market share during Q4 2005. With almost 1 in 3 of its total sales being the Razr V3 model, these are positive volumes, but Motorola is at risk of becoming a `one trick pony';

- At 18 percent, the combined global share of Korea's Samsung (11 percent) and LG (7 percent) during Q4 2005, fell to its lowest point in 2 years.

- Sony Ericsson joined the 50-million-units-per-annum club, following its Korean rival LG into this exclusive club of five.

Global Mobile Phone Shipments: Top 5 in Q4 2005