Sony Ericsson: Mobile Phone Market 780 Million Units In 2005

STOCKHOLM -(Dow Jones)- Sony Ericsson estimates the global phone market reached 780 million units sold in 2005, Chief Exectuive Miles Flint said Wednesday on a conference call.

Sony Ericsson estimates the market reached 240 million units in the fourth quarter.

Flint said Sony Ericsson sees the market growing steady in 2006 and forecasts volumes to grow around 10% from 2005.

Flint also said the company's market share held steady around 7% in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Sony Ericsson sees sales of third generation WCDMA, mobile phones becoming more important and "growing strongly" to 75 million units in 2006, Miles Flint said.

Flint said Sony Ericsson had been doing well in Western Europe in the fourth quarter, while unit sales in emerging markets had been relatively weaker.

"We continue to be a mid to high-end player...we have not been slugging it out in the low end," Flint said.

-By Magnus Hansson, Dow Jones Newswires;+46 8 545 130 91, magnus.hansson@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 18th January 2006