Worldwide sales of mobile phones will reach one billion units annually in 2009, according to a study released Wednesday by Gartner.

Gartner, a high-tech market research firm, said its estimates show that the world will have 2.6 billion mobile phones in use by the end of 2009.

"The world's appetite for mobile phones has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations," said Ben Wood, research vice president for mobile terminals at Gartner.

Wood said he believes that mobile phones could go on to be the most common consumer electronics devices on the planet.

According to the Gartner report, in 2005 mobile phone sales will reach 779 million units, a 16 percent increase on 2004, and more than 100 million 3G phones will be sold in 2006 and more than 200 million smart phones sold in 2008.

Source: Xinhua