But the Federation of Small Businesses said its own research suggested employment intentions were sliding - a trend it expected to continue.

BBC: Welsh youngsters on long-term dole up fourfold in a year

Some of its rivals, such as Sweden's Ericsson, have already transferred all their mobile-telephone production to subcontractors rather than trying to keep up with the research and development spending and technical infrastructure needed to continue to make them on their own.

ECONOMIST: Microsoft and the Great Game | The