Global mobile-handset shipments reached 296 million units in the first quarter of 2008, up 17 percent from 253 million in the first quarter of 2007.

While shipments were down 12.4 percent compared to 338 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, the report stated, this decline is a normal phenomenon for the mobile-handset business.

The leading worldwide suppliers of mobile handsets occupying the Top-5 ranks remained the same – but there was some change in the order compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.

Nokia: Easily maintained its market dominance, with shipments of 115.5 million units, which gave it a market share of 39 percent.

Samsung: Company handset market share rose to 15.6 percent in the first quarter, up from 13.7 percent in the fourth.

Motorola: Continued to struggle in the first quarter, the No.-3 ranked handset supplier retained its position with an 9.3 percent share of shipments, down from 12.1 percent in the fourth quarter.

Sony Ericsson: Slipped to the fifth spot in this quarter, down from No. 4 in the fourth quarter. Company shipments fell by 27.6 percent sequentially and rose by a scant 2.3 percent compared to same period in 2007.

LG Electronics: Managed to outperform the industry in the first quarter, with shipments rising by an industry-leading 3 percent compared to the fourth quarter and by 54.4 percent compared to a year earlier.

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