MOSCOW—German vendor Siemens overtook Finland’s Nokia, the worldwide mobile-phone sales leader, in handset sales in Russia in 2001, according to a report by International Data Corporation (IDC), a global provider of technology forecasts.
IDC estimated the total Russian handset market at US$560 million last year and said Siemens’ C35 was the most popular phone, overtaking the Nokia 3310. Nine out of 10 handsets were GSM phones, and IDC forecasted an accelerated growth of GSM handsets in Russia up to 2006.
In the meantime, Philips is ceasing supplies of its phones to the Russian wireless market, where it occupied a 3-percent share, as it closed a plant in France that produced Russia-destined handsets. Marina Kupriyanova, spokeswoman for the Philips Russian office, said the handsets are likely to return in 2003 after a joint venture is launched in China this year.
However, market experts believe the Chinese-made phones will be swallowed by the quickly developing domestic market, rather than coming to Russia.
