[モバイル}[調査]New Cellphone Purchases Decline in U.S.

米国が不況入りした兆候？　貧困層で落ち込み，機能満載型の携帯電話は伸びているという。

Already there is evidence that the market is shifting toward these high-end phones. NPD estimated that such phones comprised 17% of all mobile phone sales in the first quarter, an increase of 10 percentage points since the same period a year ago. Also in the quarter 79% of phones purchased had Bluetooth short-range wireless technology (up from 65% from the year-ago quarter), and 60% of phones purchased in the first quarter were music enabled (versus 41% the year-ago quarter).

This trend benefits makers of feature-rich handsets such as Samsung Electronics Co., LG Electronics Co., BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion Ltd. and iPhone maker Apple Inc. Motorola has struggled to add high-end phones and has lost market share as a result.