Asustek, Hon Hai and Best Buy Team Up to Tap U.S. Netbook PC Market

Taipei, Jan. 13, 2009 (CENS)--To further boost its share of the U.S. Netbook PC market, Taiwan-based Asustek Computer Inc., a world-caliber vendor of the products, has teamed up with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. and Best Buy to jointly tap the market, according to company sources.

In the three-party cooperation, Asustek will handle designing and crafting; Hon Hai, a globally leading EMS (electronic manufacturing service) provider, will take charge of manufacturing; and Best Buy, one of the largest retail chains of 3C (computer, communications and consumer electronics) products in the U.S., will be responsible for offering design concepts that meet local consumer demand and distributing finished products.

Noteworthy is that Hon Hai has hence joined Asustek's supply chain of Eee PC, the world's most popular Netbook PC, as the second supplier after Quanta Computer Inc.

Industry insiders indicated that Best Buy is one of the most influential retail chains in the U.S. market, and therefore cooperating with Best Buy will effectively help push up Asustek's market share in the U.S.

Since the second half of 2008, Asustek has been actively seeking to build sound partnership with leading retail chains in the U.S. market. To provide suitable products that truly satisfy local consumer demand, the brand has decided to cooperate with Best Buy on development of new products for the U.S. market.

According to statistics compiled by IDC (International Data Corp.), Asustek sold around 200,000 notebook PCs, including its Eee PC, in the third quarter of 2008 as No. 8 brand in the market. The brand is very likely to further advance two notches to the sixth place at the end of the year.