Gartner (NYSE:
IT
) has released a
new report
(via
CNET
) announcing that worldwide mobile phone sales declined 2.3 percent
in the second quarter of the year, presenting a new challenge to
device manufacturers as they prepare for the fall shopping season.
Despite the decline, the tech industry still sold 419 million units
during the period. According to Gartner, smartphone sales grew 42.7
percent and accounted for 36.7 percent of total mobile phone sales.
This could prove to be a positive development for Apple (NASDAQ:
AAPL
), which is expected to release its next-gen smartphone (presumably
titled iPhone 5) in September. Samsung may also unveil a new
smartphone next month, though it is unknown if the Galaxy Note II
or some other unnamed device will be released.
Gartner blames the decline on user anticipation for these new
smartphones. With so much promise behind
every product Apple plans to release
, consumers lose interest in last year's models -- including the
iPhone 4S or the original Galaxy Note. Why spend $200 on a new
smartphone today if a newer and more exciting iteration is going on
sale tomorrow?
This very logic helps and hurts the smartphone industry. Without
it, consumers might be more interested in buying the devices that
are already on store shelves. However, they also would be less
likely to spend months anticipating the next best thing. Apple
capitalizes upon this anticipation, using it to ensure that long
lines are produced whenever the company releases a new product.
Samsung has been using a similar technique to build its
smartphone business, which recently topped sales of the iPhone by
more than 20 million units
. Both Apple and Samsung are expected to report positive news
during the next quarter.
The same cannot be said for Nokia (NYSE:
NOK
), which has all but of the nation's biggest cellular carrier,
AT&T (NYSE: ). Nokia recently announced that it will , which
could be another sign of the company's financial struggle.
According to Gartner, Nokia's mobile phone sales declined 14.8
percent during the second quarter.
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