Taiwan makers ships 16 million smartphones in 1Q09, says paper

Shipments of smartphones by Taiwan makers totaled 16 million units in the first half of 2009, an increase of 23% from a year earlier, the Chinese-language Commercial Times has reported, citing data released by the Taipei-based MIC (Market Intelligence and Consulting Institute).

Meanwhile, shipments of feature handsets by Taiwan makers declined 42% on year to 22.5 million units during the same period, the data indicated.

Smartphone shipments are expected to expand another 44% sequentially in the second half, to 23 million units, the paper said.

Buoyed by increasing shipments of smartphones, the ASP (average selling price) of handsets shipped by Taiwan makers stood at US$150 in the first half of 2009 compared to US$104 for the same period of 2008, the paper quoted MIC as indicating.