It looks like Samsung has passed Motorola (NYSE: MOT) as the world's No.2 handset company, or is about to depending on whether the IDC or Gartner research numbers are right.
According to Gartner, Motorola lost 7% of the global market between Q2 of 2006 and the same quarter this year. Its RAZR handset went from the hot product to an also-ran. The US company's market share now stands at 14.6%. Meanwhile, Samsung now has a 13.4% share. IDC figures show that Samsung passed Motorola in the last quarter.
The debate is about like the one of how many angels can stand on the head of a pin. Motorola's troubles are getting worse and not better. It does not appear to have a line of handsets that will allow it to regain what was once almost 22% of the market. Earnings should continue to fall, and so should the company's share price.
After trading at $26 last November, Motorola shares now trade near their 52-week low, changing hands at $16.50. The company's enterprise telecom equipment and set-top box businesses have not made up for the sharp drop in handset revenue.
Investors are still calling for CEO Ed Zander's head. But, to a large extent it does not matter. Any turnaround at the company could take several years.
Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.
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