The predictions were dire, and the actual results were nothing to shout about.
But the cellular handset market weathered the first quarter reasonably well given the depth of the global downturn.
Research in Motion's Blackberry Bold had a good first quarter
According to ABI Research, 258 million phones were shipped during the three-month period. That is down 11 percent compared with last year. But it is ahead of expectations for 253.5 million handsets.
The research firm now thinks handset sales will fall 8 percent his year, compared with its previous projection of a 8.4 percent decline.
The second quarter, similarly, should show improvement over the first, though it will still be down 10 percent from a year earlier.
Samsung and LG did well during the first quarter, as did RIM with its Blackberry Bold, said Practice Director Kevin Burden.
