Helsinki - Finnish-based Nokia, the world's biggest mobile phone maker, said Thursday its operating profit dropped 21 per cent for third quarter 2008.

Operating profit for the quarter was 1.46 billion euros (1.98 billion dollars), compared to 1.86 billion euros for the corresponding business period 2007.

Net sales dropped 5 per cent in the quarter to 12.2 billion euros.

Nokia estimated that its share of the global handset market in third quarter 2008 was 38 per cent, compared with 39 per cent in the third quarter 2007 and 40 per cent in the second quarter 2008.

In its outlook, Nokia said it expected the global mobile handset market to increase in the fourth quarter, while Nokia's share of the global market would be steady or slightly up. (dpa)