M:Metrics: LG clamshell trumps Razr as most popular U.S. phone

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By Phil Carson
Story posted: December 7, 2006 - 1:45 pm EDT
SEATTLE—In October, new phone buyers most often selected the LG VX8300—a straightforward silver clamshell handset at Verizon Wireless for $50 with Vcast music-download abilities, picture messaging and Bluetooth connectivity—over Motorola Razr models at Verizon Wireless and Cingular Wireless L.L.C., according to data from M:Metrics.

This news may boost spirits, if not fortunes, at LG Electronics Co. Ltd., which has perennially had a strong position in the U.S.-based CDMA business. The company has struggled with global market share, where it recently slipped from fourth to fifth place, partly due to a strong showing by close competitor Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications L.P., which addresses only the GSM market, a vastly larger market globally.

The VX8300’s popularity jumped ahead of the Razr V3 silver at Cingular, which had held the top spot for popularity from July through September. October’s hot phones included LG’s VX8300 at Verizon Wireless, Motorola’s Razr V3M (silver) at Verizon Wireless for $50, Motorola’s Razr V3 (silver) for $80 at Cingular, Nokia Corp.’s 6030 for free at T-Mobile USA Inc. and LG’s VX5200, free at Verizon Wireless. (Prices cited include a two-year contract.)

LG’s VX5200 had held the top “hot spot” in January, but the Motorola Razr, in one form or another at various carriers, had held the top ranking between February and September.

M:Metrics’ data is based on online surveys of 30,000 to 35,000 people, statistically extrapolated to the entire U.S. population, based on three-month running averages. The results reflect the monthly popularity of various phone models, but not the cumulative sales totals for the year.