Just how bad will 2009 be for handset manufacturers, if consumers rein in their spending as the credit crunch continues to bite?

Sony Ericsson boss Hideki Komiyama has put a figure on it, telling Reuters that he expects unit sales for the overall market to be down 5-6 per cent in 2009.

"Right now it is not clear how the industry will be shaping up in 2009 or 2010," he says. "We know it is challenging."

However, he was more bullish about Sony Ericsson's prospects, claiming it was the third largest handset maker in Q3 2008, overtaking Motorola, and believes that it held onto its 8 per cent global market share in Q4.

It's good news for mobile games developers, as Sony Ericsson has been one of the most active handset firms in terms of promoting games - most recently through its PlayNow Arena content portal.

Komiyama warns that Sony Ericsson may focus more on its high-end, higher-margin handsets this year rather than less profitable low-end devices - which could also benefit games firms.