Mobile operators will make approximately $10.7 bln worldwide through the sales of private branded handsets in 2007, almost 23% more than the $8.7 bln earned in 2006, ABI Research says. In the next five years, over 80% of new mobile phone subscribers will be from the emerging markets of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Asia is now the most important region for demand, supply, and competition in the handset industry, and Asian suppliers have significant cost advantages over suppliers from other regions.