Dell becomes numer-uno in desktop PC mkt in India

After clinching overall domestic PC market last quarter, personal computer maker Dell became the No. 1 in the desktop segment for the first time with a market share of 9.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2010, research firm IDC said today.

Dell clinched the top position in the India desktop PC market for the first time with a share of 9.8 per cent, followed by HP and Acer in the second and the third spots respectively during July-September quarter 2010, the quarterly study of IDC said.

Dell had overtaken global rival HP for the first time in the Indian overall PC segment, which includes notebooks and desktops, with a 15.2 per cent market share in the previous quarter.

"Last quarter Dell was able to clinch the top position in the overall PC market which includes notebooks and desktops combined and in the quarter we have taken No 1 position in personal PC segment which reaffirms the consumers are buying our products and they are using it too," Dell India ED and General Manager - Consumer Mahesh Bhalla said.

Desktop PC sales at 16.7 lakh units accounted for nearly 60 per cent of total PC sales during the September quarter, representing a 15 per cent increase year-on-year. The sales of notebook computers grew at 52 per cent year-on-year to cross 11.1 lakh units for the quarter.

"Launch of multi-colour models, complemented with aggressive promotions and discounted bundling schemes augmented consumer PC spend, especially in the portables segment," IDC India Lead PC Analyst Sumanta Mukherjee said.

Besides on November 10, US computer-maker Dell made its entry into the highly competitive Indian smartphone market with the launch of two high-end 3G-enabled handsets, priced at Rs 10,999 and 16,990 respectively.

The company is targetting both high and low-end users with the two smartphones, dubbed XCD28 (Rs 10,999) and XCD35 (Rs 16,990), it had said.

"Large Enterprises responded to the improving global economic cues by ramping up IT infrastructure spending, resulting in overall improved traction, particularly for desktop PCs.

"With the momentum likely to continue in fourth quarter 2010, release of revised rate contracts for government sector buying should further bolster the prospects of the commercial PC segment," Sumanta added.

In the overall PC market, Dell retained the market leadership with an increased market share of 16.7 per cent while both HP (13.7 per cent) and Acer (10.6 per cent) retained the second and third spots respectively, albeit with reduced market shares.

"Normally, the July-September quarter shows a sales growth driven by both the consumer and commercial segments. A double-digit sequential growth of 18 per cent in overall India PC sales in 3Q 2010, points to the strength of the economic recovery and an increasingly positive consumer sentiment," IDC India Associate Vice President and Research Anirban Banerjee said.

Further, in terms of notebook shipment, Dell again retained its top position with a market share of 27 per cent in 3Q 2010, HP and Acer remained at the second and third places, respectively.

"However, the rate of growth of mini notebook PC shipments dipped marginally in 3Q 2010. This points to the need for vendors to add more functionalities to cater to evolving consumer demand," Sumanta concluded.