Must-have mobiles will sell like hot cakes in Europe

By 2007 more than 278 million Europeans will be using flash mobile handsets boasting such high-tech extras as digital cameras, picture messaging, MP3 players and polyphonic ringtones.

The latest research from telecoms and new media consultancy Analysys suggests that the demand for such gadgetry is going to spark new life into a flagging market, as people start to ditch their old mobiles in favour of all-singing, all-dancing, colour-screen handsets.

The kind of premium services offered over these phones, such as downloadable games, also promise to boost revenues per user for the mobile operators.

Julie Robson, the author of the Analysys report, said in a statement: "With the introduction of new handsets such as the Nokia 7650 and the Sony Ericsson T68i, we are finally seeing the kinds of devices that really enhance the desirability of non-voice services. These feature phones will play a vital part in transforming the role of the mobile handset, from voice device to voice and data device, and will stimulate revenue growth for operators and equipment sales for vendors."