Acer Vows to Challenge World's No.1 NB Supplier

Taipei, Feb. 4, 2009 (CENS)--Acer Inc. is likely to boost its global market share by two to three percentage points this year to dethrone HP as the world's No.1 notebook-computer supplier, according to company chairman J.T. Wang.

Wang based his rosy expectation on several reasons including its full-fledged "multi-branding" and "multi-product" strategies.

The currently No.3 brand of personal computer will systemically introduce products bearing brand names Gateway and Packard Bell, which it acquired in the United States two years ago. In the meantime, the company will roll out a number of new products including a one-piece desktop and a next-generation mini notebook.

Acer shipped around five million mini notebook PCs in 2008. Wang projected the company to ship 12-15 million of the wares, which will likely drive up the company's total notebook PC shipment by 25-30% from last year's volume.

Regardless of the global financial crisis, Wang asserted his company's market share and operating income for this year would surge from last year. Acer originally planned to attain the goal of taking the No.1 title in 2011, and Wang's latest spot forecast suggests the company will shorten the time. He said it is meaningful to make Taiwan's homegrown brand known globally if his company could accomplish the goal earlier than originally planned.

Wang said his company's sales for the first quarter of 2008 would roughly stay unchanged, and profits would slightly slip from the same period of last year as the first quarter is normally a slacken season.

Wang said he has seen many challenges and opportunities as well for this year. He added that economic downturn usually prompts weak competitors to take conservative measures, thus leaving more room for aggressive players. He estimated the United States, mainland China and Japan would offer more room for his company to grow.