Acer Projects Netbook PC Shipment to Hit 10 M. Units This Year

Taipei, Feb. 18, 2009 (CENS)--The Taiwan-based Acer Inc., now the world's third-largest brand of notebook PC, has recently unveiled its newest Aspire One series 10.1-inch Netbook PC, and optimistically expects its shipment of 10.1-inch models to hit 10 million units for 2009, according to company sources.

Scott Lin, general manager of Acer Taiwan, said that his company, after witnessing sales of its first 8.9-inch Netbook PC incredibly hit 5 million units within only a half year, has planned to further explore and focus on the market for 10.1-inch models this year. According to Lin, 10.1-inch models are estimated to account for 70% of the total Netbook PC shipment as the mainstream in the product lineup in the year.

Global sales of Netbook PCs are estimated at between 25 million and 30 million units this year, according to market survey institutes, with Acer to contribute between 12 million and 15 million units. In short, Netbook PC will serve as a major growth drive for the shipment performance in the year.

Meanwhile, amid the recent global economic recession, Acer's Aspire One is also expected to prop up sales performance of the brand's contract suppliers, including Compal Electronics Inc. and Quanta Computer Inc, with the former to absorb 80% of the total contract orders and the later 20%. Plus, display panel makers, such as AU Optronics Corp., will also benefit from Acer's Aspire One.

In addition to Netbook PC, Acer has also intended to focus on the market for smartphones this year. The brand's CEO Gianfranco Lanci recently unveiled four new models under own brand at GSMA MWC (Mobile World Conference) 2009, held from Feb. 16 to 19, in Barcelona, Spain, as the major step into the market.