Worldwide shipments of mobile phones reached a record 242 million units in the fourth quarter, surpassing the previous peak of 200 million units during the 2004 holiday quarter, according to research firm iSuppli Corp.

For all of 2005, 813 million units were shipped, up 14 percent from 713 million in 2004.

Finland-based Nokia Corp. led the pack, grabbing a 32 percent share of the market, followed by Motorola Inc. at 18 percent, according to iSuppli. Samsung Electronics Co., LG Electronics Inc. and Sony Ericsson, respectively, rounded out the top five.

Scott Smyser, a director and principal analyst at iSuppli, said the data “indicates the mobile-phone market is becoming increasingly competitive.”