Our Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) service's freshly published report -- Global Handset Distribution Forecast: Offline vs. Online -- models mobile phone sales by channel.

We forecast the distribution of mobile phones through online retail channels will grow +27% worldwide in 2013. A steadily growing number of mobile phones will be sold through online channels over time, making this an increasingly important distribution channel for operators and retailers.

North America and Western Europe represent the highest online % during the forecast timeframe, while China is seeing significant changes in distribution flows at the moment, due to pioneering companies like Xiaomi, as well as emerging e-commerce players.

Online channels continue to gain a rising share of global mobile phone distribution flows, notably in developed regions where wide Internet access and access to financial credit support online purchasing behaviors. While operators are especially strong in online distribution channels in developed markets, they will find it more difficult to gain a similar presence in developing markets where third-party retail channels currently dominate. Operators are best positioned to establish a foothold in mobile phone distribution in developing markets, both online and offline, by partnering with handset suppliers and focusing on upcoming high-value 4G postpaid customer segments.

Our Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) team is proud to attend Huawei's 10th Global Analyst Summit between Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 25th April, 2013. Around 500 analysts and journalists are attending the event at a hotel in Shenzhen, China, near Hong Kong. Just 20 people attended the first Summit a decade ago.

Huawei has been outlining its strategy for mobile devices, enterprises and networks in 2013 / 2014. These are three of our top findings from Day One (Tuesday):

1. Brand is king for Huawei. The Make It Possible (MIP) campaign, which aims to make the brand more emotive, is being ramped up across 30+ countries (e.g. UK);

2. Huawei Ascend W1, the vendor's first WP8 smartphone, was demoed. Its pricing is competitive, at circa US$120 wholesale worldwide in H1 2013. Usability is typical of a mid-range device -- good, but not great (e.g. mixed touchscreen responsiveness);

3. NFC will play an important role in Huawei's smartphone and tablet strategy for the next two years.

More analysis from Day Two to follow on Wednesday.

Strategy Analytics predicts legitimate mobile phone sales to grow +3% worldwide in 2014. Several billion 3G and 4G handsets will be sold globally during the next five years, particularly in major countries such as China, USA and Brazil. LTE will be the most important growth category and global 4G volumes will triple this year. TD-SCDMA will be the second largest segment in China during 2013, offering growth opportunities for Asian suppliers like Coolpad and Lenovo. Meanwhile, Asia will be the last remaining region for CDMA growth this year. This report, Global Handset Sales Forecast by 88 Countries & 17 Technologies: 2002 to 2017, available to the clients of our WDS (Wireless Device Strategies) service, forecasts handset sales for 6 regions and 88 countries worldwide, from 2002 to 2017. The datamodel provides forecasts for 17 separate 2G, 3G and 4G technologies, including GSM, EDGE, CDMA, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA and LTE. The report contains pivot tables and flat files for enhanced data manipulation.

Our Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) team wrote a report in 2011 predicting Coolpad would be a fast-growing mobile phone microvendor of the future. Fast forward to 2013 and that prediction is on track to coming true. Coolpad, of China, has transitioned from microvendor to a known vendor. Coolpad is now a global top-15 mobile phone player and nearly a top-10 smartphone brand, having surged from almost nowhere two years ago. What is driving the growth? Keen pricing of 3G models, a good Android portfolio for entry users, and a solid retail presence in open channels across China are three main causes of its expansion. However, Coolpad's global growth is coming more in "volume" than "value". Recent financial results indicate profits softened last year. Coolpad will need a hot-selling flagship 3G or 4G phone for international markets (where profits can be larger) if it wants to strengthen profitability this year.

According to our Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) service, global LTE handset sales will surge +194% in 2013. The United States is currently the world's largest 4G market, while South Korea is the most advanced. Apple and Samsung are the "big 2" LTE handset vendors right now, due to their unrivalled brands, attractive products, generous operator subsidies, and extensive distribution. This published report, available to clients, forecasts global LTE handset sales for 88 countries worldwide from 2010 to 2017. Almost every major country worldwide is covered, including United States, China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and many others. The report can be used by operators, software developers, content developers, handset vendors, component makers, car manufacturers and other stakeholders to determine or prioritize the size and growth rate of the huge 4G phone market.

Strategy Analytics' global devices team was on the show floor at MWC 2013, the arguably most influential trade show in the mobile industry, for five days, meeting dozens of firms and executives. What new analysis did we make as a result of our meetings? What are the hot topics and disruptive products that MWC visitors were asking about? What will be major trends for smartphones and operating systems in the second half of 2013? We conducted a webinar on Mar 6 to present a lot of interesting and noticeable topics that we gathered during MWC 2013. All Strategy Analytics' clients are invited to see the replay here.

Total global 3G & 4G phone shipments grew to record levels in 2012. For the first time ever, 3G and 4G technologies accounted for more than half of all mobile phones shipped worldwide. Which brands are the biggest players? What is the outlook for 2013? The full report - 3G / 4G Accounted for Half of All Mobile Phone Shipments in 2012 - available to the clients of our WDS (Wireless Device Strategies) service, will guide you on the global 3G/4G handset shipments from 2000 to 2012 and global 3G/4G handset vendor market share per each 3G/4G technology in 2012.

Global mobile phone shipments overall remained flat annually in Q4 2012. However, the quarter witnessed phenomenal +1100% annual growth for LTE handset volumes, led by Apple and Samsung in developed markets. Meanwhile, 3G handset shipments slowed due to the spike in 4G demand. In this published report, available to clients of our Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) service, we provide quarterly handset shipments by protocol for the top-30 global vendors, for 9 cellular access technologies, from 2001 to 2012. This hugely detailed report is valuable for handset vendors, component makers, operators, IPR holders and other stakeholders who want to track the size of 2G, 3G and 4G mobile phone markets.

Our Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) team recently blogged about Three Things You Must See at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show in Barcelona, Spain, between Sunday 24th and Thursday 28th February, 2013.

Here are three more major trends you must see at this year's MWC:

1. LTE-Advanced. Standard LTE (4G) is fast becoming "old hat". LTE-Advanced (4.5G) is where the next boom lies. And it will be here sooner than you think. We recommend visiting the Ericsson or Qualcomm stands, where I believe they will have LTE-Advanced demos for phones, chipsets or networks.

2. Microsoft tablets. It is no secret that Microsoft W8 tablets have struggled to take off so far. Pricing, distribution and design issues are inhibiting their growth. But Microsoft is in it for the long game. The US giant has deep pockets and it will not give up. Are we going to see a new Microsoft tablet from a certain Scandinavian hardware vendor?

3. Mobile Accessories. Smart phones and smart tablets will increasingly be sold with smart accessories. Operators and device makers want to create fresh revenue streams with Bluetooth headphones, Bluetooth watches, protector-cases, and many other types of add-on products. We recommend visiting stands from Plantronics or Samsung.

If you would like to meet with our mobile devices analysts at MWC, for briefings or analysis or media interviews, please send us a message via this link at our website. We look forward to seeing you in sunny Barcelona.

According to our Wireless Device Strategies (WDS) service, total worldwide mobile phone industry revenues grew a healthy +15% annually in Q4 2012. Profits and prices also increased due to a greater proportion of 3G and 4G models in the mix. Samsung and Apple dominate the industry and they are tightening their grip on value share, squeezing out almost all other rivals. This published report, available for download by clients, provides quarterly global handset average selling prices, revenues and profit metrics for multiple major handset vendors, from 2007 through 2012. Revenue share and profit share are also supplied. The report is a valuable tool for operators, component makers, automotive players and financial analysts who want to track the financial health of mobile phone makers.