MUMBAI: America's NPD Group which provides market information for the wireless industry has released a report stating that mobile phone sales to consumers in the US reached 31.6 million units in the third quarter of this year.

This number represents solid incremental growth of seven per cent from the second quarter 2005 sales volume of 29.6 million units and an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to sales during the same period in 2004. NPD estimates total third quarter 2005 consumer sales of slightly more than $2 billion.

The report notes that the handset market was very robust in the third quarter. These numbers reflect strong replacement demand among consumers, coupled with more limited growth from new subscribers.”

According to NPD’s Mobile Phone Track, Motorola continued its leadership in the US market during the third quarter, boasting three of the top five best-selling models, including its popular RAZR device at Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile. During the third quarter, Motorola’s demonstrated strength was due in part to a significant gain in share within the Verizon Wireless handset portfolio. The battle continues to be intense among LG, Nokia and Samsung for the number two market position.

Motorola has a 30 per cent market share. LG, Nokia and Samsung each have a 16 per cent share.

In the GSM market, Motorola had the leading share with 39 per cent, followed by Nokia with 22 per cent and Samsung with 14 per cent. During third quarter, LG was the leader in CDMA handsets with a 27 per cent market share, with Samsung and Motorola tied in second place at 18 per cent.

The NPD Group’s Mobile Phone Track information service compiles and analyses mobile device sales data based on more than 150,000 completed online consumer research surveys each month. Surveys are based on a nationally-balanced and demographically-representative sample, and results are projected to represent the entire population of US consumers.