Average prices driven down by increased sales of low-end models Nokia Corp. reported strong sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 but its net profit dipped slightly, with average prices driven down by increased sales in emerging markets where low-end models are popular, the company said Thursday.The world’s largest handset maker reported a fourth-quarter net profit of €1.07 billion (US$1.31 billion as of Dec. 31, the last day of the period being reported), down 1 percent from a year earlier. Fourth-quarter sales grew 9 percent to break €10 billion for the first time, at €10.3 billion, Nokia said.The company sold 265 million mobile devices in the quarter, up 28 percent from the fourth quarter of 2004. However, average selling prices dropped to €99, from €111 a year earlier. The decline in average prices mirrors the rest of the industry, Nokia said, and resulted from a shift in sales volumes to emerging markets, where lower-end phones are more popular.Net profit for the full year was more positive, increasing 13 percent to €3.62 billion. Diluted earnings per share for 2005 increased 20 percent, to €0.83 per share, Nokia said.Full-year sales were €34.19 billion, up 16 percent from 2004, it said. The company’s Enterprise Solutions business performed poorly in the quarter, with sales dropping 48 percent to €153 million. The division eked out growth of 3 percent for the full year.Nokia noted the strong performance of its multimedia business group, which had annual sales growth of 63 percent. Technology Industry