Mobile Phone Sales Fall In Second Quarter

Mobile phone sales in the U.S. reached 33 million units in the second quarter of 2007, according to the NPD Group.

Mobile Phone Sales Fall In Second Quarter

That is close to a 17 percent decrease compared to the first quarter of 2007. NPD says the second quarter is usually slower for mobile phone retailers.

"Despite seasonal slowness, the industry showed healthy year-over-year unit and revenue increases," Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD, said. "Consumers are seeing value in moving to handsets that offer data-driving capabilities."

The good news for mobile phone retailers is that NPD estimated total second quarter 2007 consumer sales hit $2.4 billion, up 14 over the same period in 2006.

Carrier stores accounted for 62 percent of sales in the second quarter of 2007. Mass merchandisers and department stores took in 9 percent of sales, and electronics specialty stores had another 5 percent of sales.