In Q2 2004 wireless phone makers shipped 156.4 mln handsets to customers all around the world, according to Gartner. That was up 3.4 mln QTQ, and up 35% YTY. The wireless-phone industry is on track to ship almost 650 mln units in 2004. 520 mln phones were shipped in 2004. Benefiting from sharp price cuts, the Finnish cell-phone giant Nokia boosted its market-leading position to 29.7% from 28.9% in Q1. It shipped 46.4 mln phones. IDC found that Nokia’s share slipped in Q2 to 27.7% from 29.3%. Sony Ericsson boosted its share to 6.6% from 5.6% in Q1, as the joint venture shipped 10.3 mln phones. The company is the world’s fifth biggest maker of wireless handsets. Korean-based LG lifted market share to 6% from 5.3%. It shipped 9.4 mln phones during Q2. Motorola’s portion of the market dropped to 15.8% from 16.4% based on shipment of 24.6 mln phones. Siemens ended Q2 with a 6.9% share, down from 8.0%. It shipped 10.8 mln phones. Samsung, the world’s third largest phone maker, suffered a small decline in market share, according to Gartner. IDC reported a small increase for Samsung. The two research firms place its market share at between 12-14%. To slow gains by its upstart challengers, Nokia slashed prices earlier this year after a steep erosion in market share, which once hit around 40%.