Carphone Warehouse is predicting an exciting year for smartphone technology as rival firms try to catch the runaway success of the Apple iPhone.The retailer reported that Nokia was "back with a vengeance" as the Finnish company's Illuvial phone helped it to a 6.3% rise in like-for-like sales in the third quarter.
Carphone's finance chief Roger Taylor said iPhones led the way as smartphones, including LG's BL40 Chocolate phone and Research in Motion's Blackberry, sold well over Christmas.
Cheaper SIM-only deals, which surged i
n popularity at the start of the recession, did not prove as attractive.
Mr Taylor said: "There's no doubt that iPhone has set the bar and everyone is going hell for leather to jump over it.
"The good news is no one can stand still, not even Apple. It's quite an exciting pipeline for the year ahead."
Carphone's finance chief Roger Taylor said iPhones led the way as smartphones, including LG's BL40 Chocolate phone and Research in Motion's Blackberry, sold well over Christmas.
Cheaper SIM-only deals, which surged i
n popularity at the start of the recession, did not prove as attractive.Mr Taylor said: "There's no doubt that iPhone has set the bar and everyone is going hell for leather to jump over it.
"The good news is no one can stand still, not even Apple. It's quite an exciting pipeline for the year ahead."
Mr Taylor added that the strong demand for high-technology phones was good news for Carphone because there are bigger profits to be made on handset deals.
His comments came with technology blogs abuzz with rumours that Apple is preparing for the launch of iPhone 4.0 software.
That speculation was ramped up when the US firm invited reporters to an event on January 27 - ostensibly to introduce its eagerly-anticipated tablet computer.
Carphone Warehouse, which is looking to spin off its TalkTalk business in March, also added another 36,000 broadband customers in the third quarter.
It attributed its success to its official sponsorship of ITV's hit show X-Factor, while it was also boosted by its takeover of Tiscali's UK operations.
The surge in both its retail and broadband business led Carphone to increase its full-year forecasts for the second time in two months.
His comments came with technology blogs abuzz with rumours that Apple is preparing for the launch of iPhone 4.0 software.
That speculation was ramped up when the US firm invited reporters to an event on January 27 - ostensibly to introduce its eagerly-anticipated tablet computer.
Carphone Warehouse, which is looking to spin off its TalkTalk business in March, also added another 36,000 broadband customers in the third quarter.
It attributed its success to its official sponsorship of ITV's hit show X-Factor, while it was also boosted by its takeover of Tiscali's UK operations.
The surge in both its retail and broadband business led Carphone to increase its full-year forecasts for the second time in two months.
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