Nokia adds fake phones to market forecast

Nokia has increased its estimate for the total number of shipped mobile devices during 2009 in order to accommodate counterfeit and unlicensed handsets.

According to Nokia's revised global mobile device outlook, the total number of devices shipped worldwide last year was 1.26 billion, up from 1.14 billion before the revision.

The Finnish telecoms giant also amended its market share prediction for 2009 to 34 per cent, down from 38 per cent.

Nokia said the decision to include counterfeit devices in its estimates was in order to give the company better market visibility.

"Beginning in 2010, Nokia is revising its definition of the industry mobile device market that it uses to estimate industry volumes," read a company statement.

"These include vendors of legitimate, as well as unlicensed and counterfeit, products with manufacturing facilities primarily centred around certain locations in Asia and other emerging markets."

Although Nokia's share of global phone shipments is predicted to stay level this year, the company is aiming to increase its global handset revenue throughout 2010.