On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

Strong smartphone demand and heated vendor competition mark out the state of the WW mobile market in 2012, IDC says-- Q4 2012 mobile phone shipments grow by 1.9% Y-o-Y to total 482.5 million units.

As for the full year, the global market is essentially flat (1.7 billion units with a slight -0.2% decline).

Smartphones represent 45.5% of total Q4 2012 shipments, the biggest percentage recorded by IDC yet, even if with somewhat lower growth than earlier IDC estimates (36.4% compared to the 39.5% estimate).

On an annual basis 2012 smartphone shipments total 545.2m units, up by 10.1% from 2011.

Nokia returns to being a profitable business for the first time since Q1 2011 on Q4 2012 with operating profit reaching €439 million, an improvement from the €954m loss from the previous year.

However mobile device sales are down by -24% Y-o-Y-- from 113.5m to 86.3m units-- while "smart device" sales drop by -66% Y-o-Y to 6.6m units as the company continues its shift from high-volume/low-cost Symbian smartphones to Windows Phone.

This explains why the Nokia smart device average selling price (ASP) is up from €140 on Q4 2011 to €186 on Q4 2012.

“We are very encouraged that our team’s execution against our business strategy has started to translate into financial results. Most notably we are pleased that Nokia Group reached underlying operating profitability in the fourth quarter and for the full year 2012," CEO Stephen Elop says.

2012 was a hard year for Nokia, with operating loss reaching €2.3 billion. As a result, the company is not making dividend payments for the year, the first time the company hasn't done so since at least 1871.

Go Nokia Q4 and 2012 Interim Report

Sony announces a companion tablet to the recently revealed Xperia Z smartphone-- the Xperia Tablet Z, a 10.1-inch Android 4.1 successor to the now retired Xperia Tablet S.

It carries a 1920 x 1200 display, quad-core 1.5GHz processor and 8MP Exmor R camera inside 6.9mm thick, 495g-heavy water/dustproof body. Connectivity includes NFC and LTE, while storage is expandable via microSD slot.

Audio should impress, thanks to "S-Force" virtual surround technology.

Sony gives no details on European availability for the Tablet Z, but it hits the Japanese market sometime during Q2 2013.

Go Sony Xperia Tablet Z

Around 50 potential suitors are looking to rescue HMV, The Sunday Times reports as CEO Trevor Moore says he is "convinced" the future of the 92-year old retailer can be secured.

At stake are 223 stores and over 4120 employees. Deloitte currently has administration duties.

The paper says a number of entertainment giants (including 20th Century Fox, Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony) have plans for an HMV rescue deal, complete with generous credit terms and cut CD and DVD prices.

“They don’t want their only choice [of retailer] to be Tesco or Amazon,” one source tells The Times. HMV still holds around 20% of the UK music and DVD market.

Universal has further interest in ensuring HMV survives-- it has rent liability for 16 HMV stores through its 2012 EMI acquisition.

HMV Canada owners Hilco are thought to be among the suitors currently in talks with HMV administrators Deloitte. Game confirmed interested in acquiring a number of HMV stores, while other supposed potential bidders include private equity firms Endless and Better Capital.

Go Music Giants Rush to Save HMV (The Sunday Times, subscription required)

Go Game Owner Eyes Trance of HMV Stores (FT.com)

Go HMV Enters Administration