Global mobile phone sales declined by 1.7 percent in 2012, hit by tough economic conditions, shifting consumer preferences and intense market competition, industry research firm Gartner said Wednesday.
World-wide sales to end users totaled 1.75 billion units in 2012, a 1.7 percent decline from 2011 sales, Gartner said, adding that fourth-quarter 2012 smartphone sales reached 207.7 million units, 38.3 percent higher than the same period last year.
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