European Union Forums

[Benn]

Economic uncertainty in Europe has taken its toll on mobile phone sales, with research showing consumers far less willing to buy costly models.

Total handset sales fell 16% in Western Europe in the first quarter of 2008, according to research firm Gartner.

[Faw_Peter]

It rather refers to western Europe, and not to Eastern Europe, where the sales of cell phones increases.

[Karl.in.eu]

I think Benn was referring to members of the EU.

[Steven]

that's strange. On the contrary, I noticed people like and do buy expensive phones. Yet, if it's true, cell phones corporations must find solutions for reducing production costs.

[Hakan G]

I think everything here is connected to the drop down in the world economics, which started in USA.

[Faw_Peter]

no, USA is a big and rich economy, I agree. But, it does not produce famous mobile phones brands. I-phone probably is the most famous brand of the USA. Other phones are normally made either in Europe or in Asia.

[Steven]

no, USA is a big and rich economy, I agree. But, it does not produce famous mobile phones brands. I-phone probably is the most famous brand of the USA. Other phones are normally made either in Europe or in Asia.

"Hello Moto!" Peter, don't forget about Motorola. This brand is famous enough.

[Hakan G]

no, USA is a big and rich economy, I agree. But, it does not produce famous mobile phones brands. I-phone probably is the most famous brand of the USA. Other phones are normally made either in Europe or in Asia.

"Hello Moto!" Peter, don't forget about Motorola. This brand is famous enough.

Popular yes, successful - no, it is nearly bankrupt, with a depreciation of -70 % in sales during one financial quarter. The Motorola division that manufacturers mobile phones is For Sale for long time now..

[Terry]

Only three world brands are still competing in the world market of cell phones:
1) Nokia
2) Samsung
3) SonyEricsson

[Hakan G]

I would like to add the LG brand, as it has some really innovating models. LG Viewty is an example of a very successful product of LG's. The handset was designed to compete to the iPhone and it managed to capture a lot more features inside it than the iPhone. The phone was so popular that the company didn't cope with the demand for it in Germany. The KF and KE series are worth a look also.

[Benn]

Sales of cell phones will keep rising, first of all, because a modern handset now includes the facilities of so many gadgets. It becomes more and more universal, due to nanotechnology advancing. Thereby, I think GPS devices apart have no future, since cell phones will replace them entirely.