Lenovo, the world's largest PC maker, continues to place big bets on emerging markets to sustain revenue growth as smartphone and tablet sales eat away at the market share of PCs.
MrDuijl (left) andKoh Kong Meng, vicepresident for East Asia, show new Lenovo smartphones yesterday.
"Thailand and Indonesia are our top two strategic countries in Southeast Asia, driving our mobile device growth," said Milko Duijl, Lenovo's president for Asia-Pacific and a senior vice-president of Lenovo Group.
After eight years as a domestic Chinese brand, Lenovo has now become the world's largest computer maker, with an expected 16.7% share in the global market this year.
Lenovo is also the world's third-largest smartphone maker and No.5 in the global tablet market.
"Sales of budget smartphones are expected to surge significantly over the next 18 months thanks to the aggressive promotional campaigns of mobile operators," he told Bangkok Post yesterday.
Koh Kong Meng, Lenovo's vice-president for East Asia, said the company expects to have a double-digit market share in Thailand by this fiscal year ending next March 31, up from 4% in September 2012.
To achieve this ambitious goal, he said Lenovo is building its local brand recognition among those aged 15-24.
Lenovo is focusing on offering advanced smartphones priced below US$300. This segment accounts for half of smartphone sales in Thailand.
The company plans to expand its retail shops to 300 this year.
Lenovo also plans to roll out its flagship smartphone Vibe X and hybrid computer Yoga in Thailand next month.
Mr Duijl said Lenovo sold a combined 12.7 million smartphones and tablets worldwide in the second quarter and 12.5 million computers.
"These figures showed our momentum in expanding into the mobile market the past four years," he said.
Smartphone sales accounted for 20% of Lenovo's total revenue, with 80% derived from computer sales.
Tapping into emerging markets in Russia, India and other five countries in Southeast Asia is expected to help Lenovo narrow the gap in market share with Samsung and Apple in PC Plus sales, where mobile devices supplement PCs, said Mr Duijl.
The market anticipates Lenovo will acquire Canada's Research in Motion, the maker of BlackBerry, and Mr Duijl said any viable business model is possible.