Take-up of 3G mobile phones will be held back more than expected this year by the downturn, according to Qualcomm, the US chip company whose technology is central to 3G.

With handset makers slashing purchases of chips in the short term and expected to carry lower inventory levels for the rest of the year, Qualcomm warned on Wednesday that as a result, its own revenues in 2009 would drop 12-16 per cent while operating profits would fall 24-30 per cent.