Global shipments of netbook computers could almost double to about 32 million units this year as a growing number of telecom operators subsidize such devices for their wireless Internet connection services and demand rises in emerging markets, market researcher DisplaySearch said yesterday.
DisplaySearch had previously estimated shipments of netbook computers would grow 66 percent to 27 million units from last year’s 16.4 million units.
PENETRATION RATE
The penetration of netbooks is expected to average 20 percent around the world this year, with Latin America having the highest penetration at 26 percent, the Austin, Texas-based company said.
In many regions, telecom operators have been offering subsidized netbooks, which has propelled shipment growth.
In North America, for example, the three largest telecom providers — AT&T, Sprint and Verizon — are aggressively selling netbooks, DisplaySearch said.
Faster-than-expected uptake of netbooks, however, led the researcher to revise downward global shipments of traditional notebook computers.
TRADITIONAL NOTEBOOKS
A dramatic reduction in demand for PCs from enterprise customers would be another important factor, as corporate executives cut information-technology spending, it said.
It estimated that shipments of traditional notebooks might drop slightly to 129.5 million units this year from last year’s 129.6 million units.
DisplaySearch predicted in April that notebook shipments would grow by more than 3 percent annually to 133 million units.
“Penetration of mini-notes is one of the primary factors behind DisplaySearch’s expectations of flat year-on-year demand for notebook PCs,” John Jacobs, director of DisplaySearch’s notebook market research, said in the report.
SECOND COMPUTERS
However, netbooks wound be predominantly used as secondary PCs, rather than replacements for traditional notebooks, Jacobs said.
The launch of Microsoft Corp’s new Windows 7 operating system in October and the global economic recovery may help notebook demand to rebound rapidly next year, DisplaySearch said.
In the first quarter, Acer Inc (宏碁) and Asustek Computer Inc (華碩) were the two biggest netbook makers with 30 percent and 15 percent market share respectively, DisplaySearch said.
HP ranked No. 3 with a 12 percent share.
Also See: Dell expects lower margins
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