Indian PC market posts 24 percent growth: IDC

DQW News Bureau New Delhi, Dec 1

The third quarter of 2006 recorded an impressive growth in terms

of unit shipments — the Indian Client PC market grew 24 percent over Q3 2005,

to exceed the 1.4 million shipments-mark in a single quarter, according to IDC's

India Quarterly PC Market Tracker, Q3 2006, November 2006 release.

"With the impact of Intel chip price cuts getting clearer,

the SMB segment registered a strong double-digit y-o-y growth in PC shipments.

The festive season promotions kept the growth momentum going for consumer

segment. These market trends were further provided a boost due to a spurt in the

shipments of notebook PCs to the education segment in Q3 2006 vis-à-vis Q3

2005," said Piyush Pushkal, Assistant Manager-PC Research, IDC India.

In the overall client PC market, the rankings remained unchanged

- HP retained the top slot with a market share of 21 percent, followed by HCL at


12 percent and Lenovo at nine percent in terms of unit shipments.

In terms of total desktop PC shipments, HP led the market in the

JAS quarter of 2006 followed by HCL and Lenovo. HP retained the top slot

followed by HCL and LG at second and third spots, respectively. The commercial

desktop PC market witnessed an 18 percent sequential growth and a 24 percent

Y-o-Y growth in unit shipment terms. In this market too HP led the ranks

followed by HCL and Lenovo.

The notebook PC market continued its growth momentum during Q3

2006. The notebook market registered a 79 percent Y-o-Y growth during JAS 2006

thanks to buoyant buying by the education segment.

The consumer notebook PC category witnessed an 18 percent

sequential growth and a 137 percent Y-o-Y growth. In terms of total notebook PC

shipments, HP retained the top slot with a market share of 41 percent in JAS

2006.

"The commercial desktop PC market moved beyond analyst

expectations, as the channel business for 'white box' machines revived as a

result of huge marketing spends targeting the channel partners and through them

the growing base of SMB users. Shipments of commercial desktop PCs to the SMB

segment grew 46 percent Y-o-Y (Q3 2006 over Q3 2005)," said Pushkal.

"As many higher education institutions moved aggressively

towards implementing Wi-Fi in their campuses. The education segment in the

notebook PC market as a whole witnessed a massive growth of 357 percent Y-o-Y

(Q3 2006 over Q3 2005) in terms of unit shipments."

"The SMB segment in the notebook PC market as a whole

witnessed a massive growth of 51 percent Y-o-Y (Q3 2006 over Q3 2005) in terms

of unit shipments. The bundling offer of a data card with notebook PCs has also

created a positive impact in the market. Large corporate users as well as SOHO

users have an added reason to buy a notebook PC or 'upgrade' from a desktop

to a notebook," Pushkal added.