Study Puts 2002 Cell-Phone Sales at 423 Million

Wireless handsets sold better than most people thought last year, according to technology research firm Gartner Dataquest.

Despite uncertain economic conditions that were thought to have clipped consumer spending, cell-phone sales rose 6% to more than 423 million units last year, up from about 400 million in 2001. Most of the big cell-phone companies had previously estimated industrywide sales at about 400 million units in 2002.

Gartner's report seems to indicate that Nokia(NOK Quote) and other handset manufacturers' strategy of offering new toys in phones worked. Dazzling gadgetry such as color screens and the ability to save new ring tones -- and not pricey new wireless data services -- helped drive sales, the study concluded. ...