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February 19, 1998 |
29,850Tata-IBM's PC sales count a higher number by 69 per
Tata-IBM has said its personal computer business witnessed significant growth in 1997, selling 29,850 machines against 17,650 in 1996.
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He said, "We had hoped to grow by 90 per cent in commercial desktops but the market conditions slowed down sales."
Incidentally, Mittal has been posted to the personal systems division of IBM's Singapore office where he will look after the small and medium sized business group covering the entire Asean region.
In India, Tata-IBM is looking at consolidation rather than expansion and is considering the best way to address the volume market.
Mittal pointed out that even now multinational brands account for only about 30 per cent of the PC market. Local brands like HCL and Zenith account for another 30 per cent. And the unbranded market take up the biggest chunk of 40 per cent.
He estimates that 560,000 PCs were sold in India in 1997. As for the home PC market, Mittal said the sub-$1,000 Aptiva range, introduced in some other markets, would be unveiled here soon.
"We are still at the planning stage about how to really open up this market, which is growing by about 20 per cent," he said.
Tata-IBM is also looking at increasing the presence of its home computer in the retail market where only Tangerine is currently selling it. Once the sub-$1,000 PC is introduced here, the company will have new channels, he said.
The 'Genuine Intel Dealer' programme has affected all companies and the shift to the branded market is happening slower than expected, he said.
An important goal for Tata-IBM this year is to invest in sales and support infrastructure, including an authorisation programme for resellers in smaller towns like Madurai, Kochi, Nashik and Ludhiana, Mittal said.
Earlier: India's largest PC market survey has sprung big surprises
- Compiled from the Indian media