MOBILE TELECOMS: SONY ERICSSON ANNOUNCES A RECORD Q4.

Sony Ericsson, the world's fifth-biggest mobile phone maker, announced a record Q4 on January 18. But despite record profits and sales, analysts had expected better. Net income for the three month period increased by 161.8% to euro 144 million, compared to euro 55 million for the same period in 2004. Net income for the year reached euro 356 million, up 12.6% on the previous year's euro 316 million. Pre-tax profits rose by 47.1% to euro 206 million, in excess of expectations of euro 174 million, according to a survey by Direkt.

The company shipped 16.1 million handsets during the quarter, representing a yearly increase of 28% and 17% compared with the previous quarter. Forecasts had however predicted sales of 16.3 million. Turnover rose by 15.2% to euro 2.31 billion compared with 2.005 billion during Q4 in 2004. For the full fiscal year, Sony Ericsson saw sales of euro 7.27 billion, up 11.4% on 2004's total of euro 6.53 billion.

Q4 was a "record quarter in terms of volume, sales and profits" for the company, said Sony Ericsson in a statement...