Sony Erricsson's handset profits up, Motorola reported loss

As per media reports, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications quarter 1 earnings for 2007 has more than doubled on strong sales of its "Walkman" music-capable handsets. Sony totally outclassed its larger rivals Nokia and Motorola, which had reported reduced profits and a horrid little loss, respectively.
Net profit for Sony Ericsson was $346 million in the first three months of the year, up from $148 million in the same period last year. Sales soared 47 percent, to $3.99 billion from $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2006. Units shipped in the quarter reached 21.8 million, a 63-percent increase from the 13.3 million shipped in the first quarter of 2006, although considerably fewer than the 26 million phones shipped in the final quarter of last year.
The lesser performance came despite a decrease in average selling prices (ASPs), from $202 per unit in the first quarter of 2006 to $182, reflecting the company's thrust into developing markets.

In the year 2007 global handset market sales of more than 1.1 billion units is forcasted.
In the worst showing of the week, Motorola reported its first quarterly loss in three years ($181 million), hurt by costs and stumbling sales. The company's worldwide market share for handsets dropped to about 17.5 percent, down from 22 percent in 2006.