Gartner: 2.6 Bln Cell Phones in Use by 2009

Survey firm Gartner Inc. says global sales of cell phones will reach 779 million in 2005 and climb to over 1 billion a year by 2009, by which time more than 2.6 billion cell phones

Gartner Inc. has published a survey in which it estimates global cell phone sales will reach 799 million units during 2005, and peak at over 1 billion units worldwide by 2009, although overall growth of the cell phone market will begin to slow. By 2009, Gartner estimates 2.6 billion cell phones will be in use.

Smart phones, which represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the handset industry, will continue to remain a luxury item, accounting for 200 million units in 2009, or roughly one phone in five. In the meantime, emerging markets like China, India, and Brazil will see faster market growth rates than mature markets like Europe and North America. By 2009, according to the study, one in three cell phones will be sold in Asia.

Gartner’s estimates are essentially in line with predictions from previous research. Last April, IDC research estimated 760 million cell phones would be sold in 2005, with a peak of 930 million in 2009.