Nokia controls nearly 40 per cent of the world’s mobile phone market, according to the latest figures released by analyst firm Gartner.

Nokia sold 120.4 million mobiles in the second quarter of 2008 and widened its lead to control 39.5 per cent of the global mobile market, noted Gartner in a report.

“Nokia has the best portfolio in the market to deal with the slowing economy,” added report author Carolina Milanesi.

She noted the “ultra low-cost” mobile offerings Nokia was supplying to developing countries and the price cuts it had made to its mid-tier portfolio that appealed to western populations suffering from inflation.

Milanesi expects Nokia sales to increase in the second half of 2008 because of its touch-screen device that will now be more high mid-tier than high-tier. “This will help drive sales, assuming it has the right look, specification and usability,” she said.
The Gartner figures also showed worldwide mobile phone sales to have increased by nearly 12 per cent since last year.

Samsung and LG have both increased their market share by two per cent but Motorola and Sony Ericsson have been less competitive. Motorola’s market share dropped by 4.5 per cent since last year while Sony Ericsson’s decreased by 1.4 per cent.

Milanesi pointed to Motorola’s “lack of 3G and hot applications such as GPS and good-quality internet browsing”. She said the company’s strategy to revamp products such as the Ming in response to the touch-screen frenzy is unlikely to increase sales. Instead Motorola will probably have to cut prices because of its lack of features, she noted.

She added she found Sony Ericsson’s new products “disappointing”.