| 14 Apr 2010 |
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Latest Figures from IDC Show Middle East and Africa Mobile Handset Market Continues to Post Growth
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Dubai, April 14, 2010 - According to the latest research from International Data Corporation (IDC), a leading global market intelligence and advisory firm for the information technology and telecommunications markets, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) mobile handset market grew marginally during 2009 as the effects of the global economic crisis continued to bite. IDC's MEA Mobile Handsets Tracker shows that shipments in 2009 were up 2.4% over the previous year.
"The MEA mobile handset market managed to rebound in the second half of 2009," says Barti Rajan, a research analyst with IDC's Mobile Handsets Program for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. "Traditional mobile phones were the main growth driver for the overall MEA market in 2009 as shipments of converged mobile devices (smart phones) slowed."
However, some of the region's more mature markets, such as the UAE and Turkey, bucked this trend, with converged mobile devices primarily responsible for driving the growth experienced in these markets. "End-user preferences in the more mature markets of the region have increasingly shifted from simple voice telephony towards a greater usage of data and applications, and both handset vendors and carriers have been eager to meet this demand, despite ongoing economic challenges." According to IDC, the converged mobile market will continue to gain momentum as vendors increase the variety of offered devices and as prices continue to fall in 2010 and beyond.
In the overall MEA mobile handsets market, Samsung and LG experienced strong growth rates during the year, with both vendors regularly releasing new models targeting almost every segment of the market. In the process, they were able to gain considerable market share from their key rivals Sony Ericsson and Motorola.
Apple and Research In Motion, maker of Blackberry mobile handsets, grew substantially throughout the year in the converged mobile devices market, with Apple's sales significantly boosted by the launch of its iPhone 3GS model. However, the vendor could have recorded even stronger sales had it employed a more expansive channel structure and was not limited solely to telecommunications providers.
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About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 46 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.
IDC in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey
For the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey region, IDC retains a coordinated network of offices in Casablanca, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, and Istanbul, with a regional center in Dubai. Further expansion plans for 2010 include the opening of additional offices in Riyadh and Cairo. Our coverage couples local insight with an international perspective to provide a comprehensive understanding of markets in these dynamic regions. Our market intelligence services are unparalleled in depth, consistency, scope, and accuracy. IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey currently fields over 70 analysts, consultants, and conference associates across the region.
IDC
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