291.1 Million Mobile Handsets Shipped in 3Q-2009, ABI Research Finds Vendors Quietly Confident About 4Q-2009

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
"The outlook for mobile handset markets continues to improve", says Jake
Saunders, ABI Research`s VP for Forecasting. "While 3Q-2009 showed a YoY 6.5%
contraction in shipments to 291.1 million, 2009 should close out with only a
4%-5% contraction (to 1,138 million for the year)."

Handset vendors are starting to mutter confidently of 4Q-2009 cash tills
jingling to the tune of robust handset sales. In 3Q-2009, North America and
Asia-Pacific helped to spearhead a recovery. In North America, the avid
enthusiasm for smartphones was the driver. In Asia-Pacific, recovery in the
local economies has been stoking interest in upgrades.

Market shares are starting to thaw. Nokia saw its market share slip from 38.3%
to 37.3% in 3Q-2009. Samsung continues to steam ahead, raising its market share
to 20.7%. Despite some very novel handset model introductions in 2Q-2009, LG`s
market-share softened in 3Q-2009 (10.9%). All the other vendors either held
their ground or lost a small amount of market share. The prime exception is
Apple: its iPhone range of smartphones increased its market share from 1.9% to
2.5%. There have been arguments that Apple`s limited handset line-up will
constrain growth, but for the mid-term, ABI Research does not expect any
slowdown in Apple`s market-share growth.

"Despite the successes of the iPhone operating system, the leading player in the
smartphone OS market is still very much Symbian (48%), followed by Blackberry
(18%)," notes practice director Kevin Burden. "The `dark horse` in all this is
Android." This week Motorola announced the launch of its navigation-friendly
"Droid" handset. As the list of vendors committed to releasing Android handsets
expands, product momentum should translate into increased Android sales. ABI
Research estimates Android could capture 10% of the smartphone market by 2014.

Smartphones are not the only handset segment to drive the market. GPS is also
becoming a very desirable feature of handsets. By the end of 2009, ABI Research
estimates, 21% of all handsets shipped this year will have onboard GPS.

For more about worldwide mobile device markets, please visit ABI Research`s
"Mobile Devices Vendor Share" (http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1003402) and
"Mobile Devices Market Forecast Analysis"
(http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1003877), which track the above data. Both
are components of the firm`s Mobile Devices Research Service
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Mobile_Devices_Research_Service).

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends
in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North
America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research`s worldwide team of experts advise
thousands of decision makers through 27 research and advisory services. Est.
1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

ABI Research
Christine Gallen, 516-624-2542
pr@abiresearch.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009