New product development and firm value in mobile handset production

We study the effect of new product introduction on firm value. Using a unique sample on mobile phone handset introduction by the 16 largest major handset manufacturers from 1992 to 2002, we distinguish between truly innovative product introduction and imitative product introduction. We find that while most product introduction is imitative, both types of innovation increase firm value. However, truly innovative innovation is found to increase firm value by more than imitative introductions.