Handset market updates

Undervalued imports in Russia decreasing

Illegal imports and the undervaluing of imported mobile handsets, a once-widespread practice in the Russian market, is disappearing fast. A spokesperson for the Federal Customs Service told Prime-Tass that whereas, imports of phones have jumped to 19.034 million units in January - September from about 5.670 million in the same period of 2005, the average price of imported handsets have increased to $149 from $39. Russian authorities have eliminated several illegal channels of mobile handset imports. Having launched a clampdown in August 2005, most Russian mobile phone retailers have now switched to direct imports of mobile handsets. And customs now have official prices of mobile phones from most manufacturers, there seems little room for importing below market value.

Mobile phone crimes in London decreased by 17.5% since 2003

The London based National Mobile Phone Crime Unit, has announced that there have been a 17.5% reduction in mobile phone related criminal activity since 2003. The head of the unit attributed the success to close working relationships between the unit and the London boroughs. Run by the Metropolitan Police, the unit tackles elements involved in mobile phone criminality, focusing on the handlers, re-programmers and exporters of stolen mobile phones. With the recent clampdown by HMRC on VAT carousel fraud, it looks like mobile phone crime is under the microscope at all levels!

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