Nokia maintains wider profit margin than rivals

Finland-based Nokia has managed to maintain its status as the world’s most profitable cellphone maker following months of fierce battle over lost market share, which ate into its rivals’ margins and sales in the second quarter of 2004.

Based on its interim report released earlier this month, the world’s largest mobile phone maker managed to maintain a wider profit than its main competitors in April to June.

Pricing competition stopped the fall in Nokia’s market share in the final part of the second quarter, according to the company’s own estimates.

In the latest quarter, Nokia’s sales rose to 45.5 million units, while runner-up Motorola reported selling a total of 24.2 million units, a 1.2-million drop from the first quarter.

Sales by Siemens mobile phone units equaled those by Sony Ericsson, bestowing them the fourth spot, their report indicated.

Sony Ericsson reported its sales rising to the same level as Siemens, totaling 10.4 million units in the three months through June.