As the Dow Jones Industrial Average spiraled downward below the fabled 10,000 threshold over the course of Monday (before slightly rebounding in the late afternoon), handset vendors saw their stocks fall lower than they have in 52 weeks. For an industry segment consumed with tapping the consumer market with touch-screens and well-marketed smart phones this Christmas season, this was less than welcome news.
However, some analysts have said handset vendors will actually benefit as people make the choice to eschew $3,000 consumer electronics splurges and instead look to spend the more affordable $200-$400 for wireless gadgets.
