Global cell-phone sales up 22 percent

LONDON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Global mobile-phone sales surged nearly 22 percent in the second quarter, technology research group Gartner said Thursday.

The London-based company said worldwide sales rose to 190 million units, adding that demand was strong across the board with the exception of Japan.

"The strength of the world's mobile phone market in the second quarter of 2005 reinforces Gartner's view that it will reach 780 million units by the end of the year," said Carolina Milanesi, a mobile-phone analyst at the company.

In Europe and the United States, sales expanded as people bought new phones to replace their older models, while consumers in developing countries were more eager to become new users.

In North America, sales rose 9.4 percent to 35.5 million units, while European sales increased by 10 percent to 37.4 million. Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa saw combined sales rise 37 percent to 33.6 million units, while demand in the Asia-Pacific region excluding Japan rose 28 percent to 48.3 million.

Sales in Japan, on the other hand, fell to 10.0 million from 10.6 million.