Taiwan handset shipments slide on quarter for first time in five quarters, says DigiTimes Research

Though handset shipments from Taiwan-based makers recorded a 94.2% increase on year to 35.03 million units in the third quarter, shipments were down for the first time in five quarters by 0.2% on quarter, according to the recently published DigiTimes Research ICT Report - Taiwan handsets: 3Q 2006.

In the third quarter of 2006, GSM handsets accounted for 90% of handset shipments from Taiwan-based manufacturers, noted DigiTimes Research, adding that the proportion of WCDMA phones will grow substantially in the fourth quarter, while the CDMA-handset segment will slide slightly.

Candy bar form factor phones were the main type of handsets shipped by Taiwan-based manufacturers and the segment is expected to still account for a majority of shipments in the fourth quarter despite a 11-percentage point drop on year.