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

The WW pico projector market reaches around 830000 units in H1 2011-- growing by over 300% from 270000 units in H1 2010, according to Pacific Media Associates (PMA).

The pico category includes all battery-powered (or battery-powerable) models, including companion (stand-alone) models and devices with embedded optical engines.

PMA expects pico projectorss to continue improving in brightness and resolution-- predicting average brightness will increase to 35 lumens by 2012 and over 47 lumens by 2014, while 80% of companion pico projectors will handle WVGA resolution or better by 2014.

The analyst is currently preparing its 4th annual pico projector ecosystem survey, and will soon start inviting OEMs to take part.

Go Pico Projector Market Triples in First Half (PMA)

W. European customers move away from feature phones as Q2 2011 smartphone shipments reach 21.8M units (growing by 48% Y-o-Y) while feature phone shipments total 20.4% (declining by -29% Y-o-Y), according to IDC.

However, the overall Q2 2011 W. European mobile market is in decline-- by -3% Y-o-Y, with shipments reaching 42.2M, due to a "deteriorating" eurozone economy hitting on consumer demand.

Other factors causing the decline include Nokia's sharp decline hitting the smartphone segment (which may indicate Symbian fans holding off on their phone replacements) and operators focusing on clearing inventories for the new devices to launch on Q3 2011.

IDC says this is the first time smartphone shipments surpass feature phone shipments in W. Europe, making up 52% of total shipments.

All European countries see increasing smartphone adoption as mobile operators stop subsidizing feature phones.

Android continues leading the W. European smartphone market, with Q2 2011 shipments growing by 352% Y-o-Y and reaching 10.5M units-- 48.5% of total smartphone shipments for the quarter.

Samsung is now the top mobile phone vendor (in both smartphone and total shipments), as Nokia shipments decline further to second place. Samsung's Q2 2011 mobile phone shipments total 13.9M units, with 33% market share and 29% Y-o-Y growth.

Meanwhile Nokia Q2 2011 shipments total 9M, with 21% mobile market share (down from 37% in Q2 2010) and a Y-o-Y decrease of -44%.

On the smartphone front, Samsung leads with 22% market share and Q2 2011 shipments totalling 4.8M units (with impressive 700% Y-o-Y growth). Apple follows, with 21% market share and shipments totalling 4.6M units.

Go IDC European Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker

Dixons sales for for the 12 weeks ending 23 July 2011 decline by -1% Y-o-Y, while sales are down by -7%, following its Q1 trading statement.

The retailer says such performance "was in line" with expectations, particularly in comparison to the strong 2010 sales from the World Cup and the iPad launch.

Dixons' UK operations are performing "in line of expectations" (with total growth declining by -9%) as the KNOWHOW customer care service is now operating in the UK and Ireland.

It does see growth in the Nordics (with 5% growth), while International growth remains flat.

Online makes 14% of total group sales, and Dixons says multichannel sales growth is continuing.

Dixons now also has 71 Megastores open-- 32 of which in the UK.

Go Dixons Q1 Trading Statement

Amazon will launch its e-commerce services in Spain this Wednesday with Amazon.es, according to El País.

Amazon.es will only sell the usual mix of physical goods-- books, films and music, as well as CE.

The retailer is also working on a Spanish version of the Kindle eReader and is currently in negotiation with local publishers to agree on digital content prices.

It hopes the Spanish version of the Kindle online store will roll out by the year's end, alongside its entire product catalog.

Go Amazon Comes to Spain September 15 (El País)