HOME Global PC sales flat in second quarter
Preliminary data from research house Gartner claims that second quarter 2012 global PC sales were down 0.1% in unit terms year-on-year at 87.5 million units. It is important to note that Gartner’s data includes desktops, notebooks and netbooks, but not tablets.
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Microsoft touts channel opportunities
Vendor giant Microsoft kicked off its worldwide partner conference yesterday. CEO Steve Ballmer told channel delegates about product milestones and opportunities for partners as Microsoft entered a ‘new era’. The four-day partner conference aims to recognise the achievements of Microsoft’s 640,000 partners worldwide and give delegates a glimpse of what to expect in the year ahead.
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First quarter growth in Chilean market
Research house GfK’s latest analysis of the ICT, telecoms and consumer electronics market in Chile has revealed that the total market value grew 3.3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2012 to hit US$732.4m, driven by growth in multiple product segments including consumer electronics and IT, plus office kit and consumables.
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Westcon builds Latin America presence with Afina
VAD outfit Westcon has boosted its presence in Latin America, Iberia and North Africa, snapping up Afina Group through its purchase of GLS Software and its subsidiaries. Focusing on distribution of security and datacentre solutions, Afina’s vendor portfolio includes VMware, Citrix, Riverbed, and Symantec - as well as many firms currently among Westcon’s portfolio in other regions.
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Ingram Micro to acquire BrightPoint
Distribution giant Ingram Micro has made its intentions clear in the mobile space, signing a definitive agreement to snap up NASDAQ-quoted BrightPoint in a deal worth US$840m. Ingram Micro claims that the deal will give it ‘immediate scale’ in the fast-growing mobility and market and will also expand the range of logistics services and solutions it can offer. Brightpoint also holds a 23% stake in Latin American distributor Intcomex.
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Vendor giant Microsoft has confirmed its entry into the tablet PC space, unveiling two Windows Surface tablet PCs. Microsoft will need to walk a fine line in terms of balancing its cooperation and competition with major PC vendors as a result of this move. Launch dates and pricing have yet to be revealed and Microsoft will also need to build effective routes-to-market for its new hardware devices.
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Argentinean market exceeds US$8 billion in 2011
Research house GfK’s latest analysis of the ICT, telecoms and consumer electronics market in Argentina has revealed that the total market value grew 12.5% in full year 2011 to hit US$8.01 billion. Argentina - the location for the second annual DISTREE Latin America event later this year - witnessed strong growth across multiple product categories in 2011.
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Positivo announces fourth quarter figures
South American PC and device manufacturer Positivo Informatica recorded sales of US$339.4m in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 4.6% year-on-year. Profits almost quadrupled to US$25.1m for Brazil’s leading local PC manufacturer. Positivo claims that 2011 was the company’s seventh consecutive year as Brazilian market leader.
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Hardware giant HP is merging its PC and printer groups into one combined unit. HP’s imaging and printing group (IPG) and personal systems group (PSG) will join forces to become the HP printing and personal systems group (PSPG). The new super-unit will be headed up by PSG boss Todd Bradley. Vyomesh Joshi, boss of the IPG unit, is retiring after a 31-year career at HP.
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Tech Data posts fourth quarter figures
Distribution giant Tech Data has announced that sales for its fourth quarter ending January 31st 2012 were flat year-on-year at US$7.11 billion with operating margin slipping to 1.18% from 1.65% a year earlier. Net profits for the quarter dropped 30% year-on-year to US$54.1m. Tech Data’s fourth quarter results did include a US$28.3m charge related to the disposal of its operations in Brazil and Colombia.
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