INDUSTRY NEWS

The effects of the global financial crisis will finally be felt by the mobile phone market next year, leading to a downturn in shipment volumes.

That is according to a new report from IDC, which suggests that total mobile phone volumes will fall by 1.9 per cent in 2009 compared to this year, the first negative movement since 2001.

The analyst explained that the market has enjoyed double-digit annual growth since then due to an increased focus on emerging markets, but added that many of these are now beginning to mature.

"There is a lot of uncertainty about how the markets will fare and inventory levels will be more of a focus point then ever before," said Ryan Reith, senior analyst with IDC's mobile phone tracker.

The research company predicted that worldwide growth will total 7.1 per cent 2008 before falling into the red next year.

Despite projected falling sales of devices in 2009, the mobilisation of the workforce in recent years has led leading firms to deploy mobile business intelligence solutions across their organisations, according to Aberdeen.