If mobile phones were shared out equally, nearly half the world's population would have one. The number of handsets is now close to three billion. But a big market doesn't necessarily mean a profitable one.
Competition between rival manufacturers is cut throat in the extreme. There are four big mobile phone makers: Nokia, the market leader, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola. Currently Motorola is seen as the weakest with relatively high costs and few snazzy new models. The company had already announced 3,500 job cuts. Now it's slashing another 4,000 posts. It's part of a restructuring programme intended to trim operating costs by a billion dollars. The company says its number one priority is restoring profits, not gaining market share at any price.
Analysts say Motorola's main problem is Nokia. Nokia ruled the mobile phone roost for many years, then went into something of a decline, but in the last year or two it's come back with a vengeance. Motorola so far at least has been seen as the main victim of Nokia's recent revival.
shared out equally
when everyone gets the same number/amount
handsets
a handset is a telephone mouthpiece and earpiece forming one unit
profitable
bringing money (from a business)
cut throat in the extreme
here, very high, very severe
snazzy
stylish and attractive, usually in a showy way
slashing
cutting, getting rid of
to trim operating costs
to reduce the amount of money needed for the company to exist and work
number one priority
the most important issue
ruled the mobile phone roost
here, was the most important of all the mobile phone manufacturers
with a vengeance
in a higher degree than was expected
Competition between rival manufacturers is cut throat in the extreme. There are four big mobile phone makers: Nokia, the market leader, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola. Currently Motorola is seen as the weakest with relatively high costs and few snazzy new models. The company had already announced 3,500 job cuts. Now it's slashing another 4,000 posts. It's part of a restructuring programme intended to trim operating costs by a billion dollars. The company says its number one priority is restoring profits, not gaining market share at any price.
Analysts say Motorola's main problem is Nokia. Nokia ruled the mobile phone roost for many years, then went into something of a decline, but in the last year or two it's come back with a vengeance. Motorola so far at least has been seen as the main victim of Nokia's recent revival.
shared out equally
when everyone gets the same number/amount
handsets
a handset is a telephone mouthpiece and earpiece forming one unit
profitable
bringing money (from a business)
cut throat in the extreme
here, very high, very severe
snazzy
stylish and attractive, usually in a showy way
slashing
cutting, getting rid of
to trim operating costs
to reduce the amount of money needed for the company to exist and work
number one priority
the most important issue
ruled the mobile phone roost
here, was the most important of all the mobile phone manufacturers
with a vengeance
in a higher degree than was expected