Samsung, HTC, Apple Warn Abouit 4Q Earnings

Severe competition between smart phone and tablet makers will intensify in the period leading up to the Christmas and holiday season, likely signaling a tougher earnings climate.

Apple, Samsung and HTC gave cautious cautious guidance on their fourth quarter prospects. Major new device launches and the impact of a slowing global economy are seen as issues. 

Total worldwide handset shipments reached 410 million units in the third quarter of  2012,  Strategy Analytics says. Overall global shipments of mobile handsets were virtually flat in the second quarter, rising only one percent to 362 million units, according to Strategy Analytics.

But some might note that smart phone sales in some markets, such as the United States, have been slowing for years.