Nov. 3--NETBOOKS -- small and low-capacity computers -- are a clear trend in Israel in recent months. IDC Israel reports that sales in the mini-notebook category nearly doubled in the third quarter to 54,300, 90 percent more than in the second quarter.

Sales of standard laptops were 35 percent greater in the third quarter than in the preceding quarter. While this is impressive growth, it is less than the growth in the new Netbook category.

Third quarter Netbook sales quintupled compared with the corresponding quarter of 2008, while standard laptop sales rose 75 percent. Altogether, 155,000 mobile computers were sold in Israel in the third quarter, 40 percent more than in the preceding quarter, and double the sales in the corresponding quarter.

IDC Israel's report on mobile computer sales are in line with the figures from its international peers. The most notable fact is that Acer Inc. has become the world's second-largest maker of personal computer, ahead of Hewlett Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) and Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL). Acer was boosted by 15 percent growth in its Netbook sales.

The growth in mobile computer sales did not extend to cellular telephone manufacturers during the third quarter. IDC reports that 287.1 million cellular telephone were sold worldwide during the third quarter, 5.6 percent more than during the corresponding quarter, but 6 percent less than in the corresponding quarter of last year.

IDC Israel communications analyst Oren Raviv notes that cellular telephone manufacturers sold all their inventories of old models at low prices, which boosted demand. He believes that manufacturers will launch products at the upper end of the price range during the fourth quarter, which could affect their profits.

Nokia (NYSE; LSE; HEX: NOK) continues to lead in cellular telephone share, with 37.8 percent. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (KSX: 5930) is in second place with a 21 percent market share, followed by LG Electronics Inc. (KSX: 66570), with 11 percent.

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