(Telecompaper) Overall mobile phone sales to end users fell 1.7 percent to 1.75 billion units in 2012, the first decline since 2009, according to Gartner, due to tough economic conditions, shifting consumer preferences and intense market competition worldwide. Mobile phone sales fell by 19.3 percent to 264.4 million units in the fourth quarter, while smartphone sales rose 38.3 percent to 207.7 million units in quarter. Gartner predicts that sales of worldwide smartphone sales to end users will be close to 1 billion units and overall mobile phone sales 1.9 billion units this year.