Business | Technology
Acer looks to capitalise on recession
Taiwanese firm aspires to become the world's leading notebook vendor by 2011.
- By Naushad K. Cherrayil, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:15 May 30, 2009
- Image Credit:
Dubai: Taiwanese firm Acer is focusing on introducing breakthrough technologies even in tough market conditions in a bid to become the world's top notebook vendor by 2011, a top company official said.
"When [the] rest of the computer manufacturers are cutting costs due to recession, Acer is the only company introducing new technologies at the right time, and investing heavily in product development to make use of the recession and grab maximum market share," Krishna Murthy, managing director, Middle East and Africa (MEA), said after launching the new Aspire Timeline notebook.
He said the industry outlook is flat, but the notebook market will experience double-digit growth fuelled by strong demand for netbooks, while the desktop market will suffer 15-20 per cent negative growth.
Placed in second position after HP in the first quarter of 2009, the company expects 10 per cent growth in unit terms and to grab 16-17 per cent of the MEA market with its multi-branding strategy.
"The launch of the new Acer Aspire Timeline series marks the beginning of a new era in mobile computing. In fact, Acer based the new notebooks on a simple yet revolutionary idea: instead of making laptops with bulkier and heavier batteries ..., we made a series of notebooks which are more efficient, and capable [of] reducing energy consumption and boosting battery life by up to 40 per cent," Murthy said.
Mobile communications: Smart phones
Acer, which entered the mobile communications market with the acquisition of E-Ten last year, expects to launch smart phones in 2009.
"The smart phone market is growing rapidly despite being highly competitive. Acer's strategy is to identify the growing market and segment, and be there at the right time," Krishna Murthy, managing director of Acer Middle East and Africa, said. It will launch a collection of touch-screen smart phones. Some models are already launched in Europe and Asian markets.
"We are getting sample pieces now and meeting channel partners ," Murthy said.
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