Computer tablet sales rise, mobiles fall

Mobilephone sales during the second quarter of the year dropped 18 per cent compared to the previous quarter, according to the International Data Company (IDC).The number of sales for basic mobilephones fell by 20 per cent, while smartphone sales dropped by 4 per cent.Nokia led the mobilephone market with 50 per cent of sales, and Samsung had the highest market share for smartphones.IDC predicted that Vietnamese- and Chinese-made phones would ultimately take the highest market share for basic mobilephones and inexpensive smartphones.While handphone sales slumped, computer tablet sales rose by 110 per cent in the second quarter.The Apple iPad tablet leads the segment, with sales rising by 170 per cent compared to the first quarter.Apple holds a market share of 78 per cent in the tablet category. IDC said that Samsung's Galaxy Tab had suffered a loss of sales to Apple's iPad.