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

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