Big name handset manufacturers to benefit from slowing handset sales?

There’s little doubt that 2009 is going to see a continued slide in mobile phone sales. The decreased growth in cellphone sales that started in late-2008 was buoyed by the success of the smartphone market, but it now seems that even the hot-ticket smartphone segment will see a downturn in market growth for 2009.

But, even the stormiest of financial clouds has its silver lining. In this case, big-name handset manufacturers might benefit from the global cellphone market’s slowdown. Market leaders like Nokia and Samsung will still take a hit in mobile phone sales, but will likely weather the storm better than their smaller, lower-profile competitors. The weakened global economy that is widely believed to be dousing the mobile market’s once-growing flames may end up entrenching market incumbents. Smaller players will likely see their market share eroded significantly.

Forecasts for mobile phone sales range from a 3.5% decrease in sales to as much as a 14% decline from the handset market’s booming success in 2007 and 2008.

Motorola, Sony Ericsson, and Palm are expected to take their fair share of beatings in 2009. The trio has seen their market share slowly being gobbled up by the likes of Nokia and Samsung, and 2009 may prove to be an even harsher year.

It’s unclear just how much more market share the top-dogs will pick up by the end of 2009, especially if the market turns around in mid- to late-2009.

[Via: RCR]