MOBILE GADGETS GET SMARTER 31/01/2005

Smartphones are the driving force of the mobile market, according to the latest Canalys figures. The research firm reported a 101 percent growth in the global shipment of smartphones and feature phones over the last year, while handheld shipments lagged behind with 5 percent growth. Nokia, palmOne, HP and RIM held fast in the top four spots, with Motorola in fifth place following the success of its Windows Mobile and Symbian smartphones.

In the fourth quarter of 2004, Nokia shipped a record-breaking 4.9 million smartphones worldwide, refreshing its range with innovative designs such as the Nokia 9500 Communicator, the first smartphone with integrated Wi-Fi. PalmOne is the leading vendor in North America with the Treo 650; the company saw smartphone shipments rise 154 percent while handhelds fell 6 percent. RIM posted the highest growth, more than 200 percent with its Blackberry handsets. Consumers seeking all-in-one mobile devices have more choice than ever before.

Contact: www.canalys.com