Smartphones set for sales boost

A new series of smartphones will be launched in the next few weeks, just as analysts are warning that a lack of new models is hampering sales.

Although mobile device sales grew by 27 per cent for this quarter, compared with the same quarter last year, most of the growth was in the PDA market, with Hewlett-Packard performing strongly, according to Canalys.

Other systems, such as the Medion, which is used in conjunction with Global Positioning System for location-based services, have also been driving growth.

"There have been no launches of new smartphone models to boost the market this quarter," said Chris Jones, senior analyst at Canalys.

"But a number of smartphone models coming online in the next few weeks should change this, and boost take-up."

A series of new smartphone launches from Samsung, Nokia, Siemens and Sendo are expected over the next few weeks. Sendo was the first to market this week with the launch of the Sendo X, the first smartphone designed and built in the UK.

The tri-band handset uses the Symbian 60 operating system and weighs 120g. It has a colour screen, built-in camcorder and Bluetooth, and is available immediately.

"We believe that the Sendo X has the best combination of advanced multimedia and internet capability of any phone available on the market today," said Hugh Brogan, Sendo's chief executive.

"True to Sendo's business model, we have made the phone extremely customisable for both the operator and the user. Both network operators and consumers can now adapt the phone to the way they want to use it."

Distributors also hope the new products will boost the market. "The lack of new products being launched hasn't inspired end-users," said Mark Robinson, business manager at Hugh Symons.

"That may change with the new products coming online that may give users more of a reason to buy.

"On the hand-held computing side units are flying out. There's a lot of location-based services going into the haulage and shipping industries."