The decrease in sales was mainly due to a drop in turnover of 16 percent in the Nokia Siemens Networks business, reflecting challenging competitive factors and market conditions, the company said. Sales within Nokia’s Devices & Services division, which comprises the company’s mobile devices business, increased 0.5 percent to Euro 8.2 billion (US-$ 11.5 billion) in the fourth quarter or 2 percent at constant currency. The company sold a total of 126.9 million mobile devices, compared with 113.1 million in the fourth quarter 2008 and 108.5 million in the third quarter 2009. Based on the company’s market estimate, this results in a global mobile device market share of 39 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with 37 percent in the fourth quarter 2008 and 38 percent in the third quarter 2009. Nokia recorded higher market shares in all regions except North America.
For the full year 2009, Nokia announced net sales of Euro 41.0 billion (US-$ 47.4 billion), a minus of 19 percent. The Devices & Services business recorded sales of Euro 27.9 billion (US-$ 39.1 billion), a minus of 21 percent. Compared with 2008, the company’s operating profit decreased 76 percent to Euro 1.2 billion (US-$ 1.68 billion) in 2009; the profit before tax and minority interests was down to Euro 1.0 billion (US-$ 1.4 billion), compared with Euro 5.0 billion (US-$ 7.0 billion) in 2008, resulting in a net profit of Euro 300 million (US-$ 420 million), after a profit of Euro 3.9 billion (US-$ 5.46 billion) in 2008.