Motorola's new handsets helped its sales leap 53%

The Finnish firm had one-third of overall phone sales in the second quarter of 2006 - unchanged from the previous three months.

It sold 78.4 million phones, up 29%, in the period, boosting its profits.

Motorola, which has gained an extra 2% market share, racked up a 53% rise in sales, Strategy Analytics said.

GLOBAL MOBILE PHONE SHARE Nokia: 33.3% Motorola: 22.1% Samsung: 11.2% Sony Ericsson: 6.7% LG: 6.5% Others: 20.3% Source: Strategy Analytics

The US-based analysts said that if the two market leaders maintained their current growth rate, Motorola could "potentially" overtake its Finnish rival during 2007.

Spokesman Neil Mawston said: "The top two vendors continue to blitz the competition."

Weak

Motorola now has a 22.1% world market share - almost twice that of third-placed Samsung.

Global sales of mobile phone handsets climbed 26% to 235 million in the quarter.

Sony Ericsson overtook LG, which lost ground for the second quarter in a row because of weak sales in the South Korean and North American markets.

In results announced on Thursday, Nokia said its profit in the period grew 43% to $1.42bn (�767m; 1.14bn euros), while the average selling price for a phone handset slipped three euros on the first quarter from 102 euros.

Cheaper models

Analysts say Nokia is benefiting from getting into emerging Asian markets early.

Its range of cheaper, easy-to-use models have helped it snare more than 50% market share in some countries.

Heavy interest in Motorola's Razr, Slvr and Pebl handsets drove demand, which the firm said it expected to continue.