Handset market growth to continue in 2008 -Gartner

HELSINKI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Cellphone sales in the second quarter grew 11.8 percent from last year, boosted by surging demand in emerging markets in Asia and Africa, research firm Gartner said on Wednesday.

"We expect mobile handset sales to exhibit 11 percent growth in 2008 and the growth in revenue will be slightly lower at 9 percent as increased competition and a tougher economic environment negatively impact average selling prices," analyst Carolina Milanesi said in a statement.

"In addition, mobile phone manufacturers will be put under pressure to maintain healthy margins while they intend to further break through in the emerging markets to increase sales," she said. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki)