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IBM builds up leading position in PC market
By Liu Baijia (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-09-15 08:36
IBM will consolidate its position as China's No 1 personal computer brand in
terms of sales value with increasing investments, new products and aggressive
marketing activities.
"We are very glad to see IBM has gained many No 1 titles in the PC market and
we hope that when people talk about personal computer, they will think about IBM
Thinkcentre and Thinkpad," said Janet Ang, vice-president of IBM China and
general manager of its personal computer business.
According to statistics from the market research house International Data
Corp (IDC), IBM ranked first in terms of the value of PC sales in China among
all foreign brands and only after the domestic vendor Lenovo.
Its market share in the notebook computer segment in terms of units also grew
from 17.3 per cent to 21.2 per cent and further extended its leadership.
Frances O'Sullivan, general manager of IBM's global PC division, said
listening to customer needs is a key for the company to achieve success.
"Our strategy is not only going after market share, but focusing on the needs
of customers, especially enterprise users," she said.
IBM launched its new model of notebook Thinkpad X40 earlier this year to meet
customers' needs in mobility.
It also released its smallest desktop computer Thinkcentre S50 on Thursday in
China which will save more space on customers' desks.
Ang said the S50 is the smallest full-function desktop computer in the world,
which saves 75 per cent space compared to traditional IBM computers.
The world's biggest information technology company will start a 14-city
promotion in China for the product soon.
It has already recruited more than 50 new distributors in Beijing to sell the
model.
IBM also sponsored 30 S50 computers and 10 notebooks for the China Open
Tennis Match in Beijing as another promotional move.
Besides launching more new products, IBM will open "experience centres,"
where consumers can have a close look and try the computers.
Ang said the information technology giant will expand locations of its stores
from 80 cities at the end of last year to more than 100 Chinese cities.
O'Sullivan said small and medium cities will also be focal points and can be
a growth engine for IBM's PC business.
According to IDC, small and medium businesses have become one of
fastest-growing buyers of computers besides education and government
sectors.
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