Mobile handset sales growth slows

Apple overtook Blackberry-maker RIM for the first time

Growth in sales of mobile phones between July and September slowed to the weakest rate since 2002, according to Strategy Analytics.

The company said 303 million phones were shipped worldwide in the quarter, up 5% on the same period in 2007.

Nokia remained by far the biggest manufacturer, producing 117.8 million mobile phones.

Apple overtook Blackberry-maker RIM for the first time to be the sixth biggest handset manufacturer.

BIGGEST SELLING HANDSET MAKERS 1, Nokia 2, Samsung 3, Sony Ericsson 4, Motorola 5, LG Electronics 6, Apple

Samsung took the number two spot, selling 51.8 million handsets.

Strategy Analytics blamed the slow growth on sluggish sales in developing markets such as China, India, Russia and South America.

It predicts the growth rate will remain at 5% in the final three months of the year with 345 million units sold.

The figures came on the day that Motorola posted a three-month loss of $397m (£242m), blaming continuing problems in its mobile phone division.