NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 20: India has emerged as the fourth largest buyer of personal computers (PCs) in Asia-Pacific after China, Korea and Australia with one million units shipments in 1999, according to the US-based International Data Corporation (IDC)."India replaced Taiwan as the region's fourth largest market in 1999 as shipments surpassed one million units for the first time," an IDC document said.The Indian market recorded a growth of over 42 per cent which was supported by home consumers, small businesses and falling price points in the price-sensitive market, it said.The PC market in the Asia-Pacific surpassed 14.1 million units in 1999, registering an increase of 35.1 per cent over 1998.Last year's PC shipment was the highest-ever annual figure recorded and is a complete rebound from the previous two years when the economic crisis held back the personal computers expansion in the region, the document said.It said Asia's economic recovery was the greatest market accelerator in theregion."Vast untapped markets in India, falling prices, growing awareness and the Internet would enable it to become one of the hottest PC market in the world," research manager at IDC Asia/Pacific Kitty Fok said.IBM retained its position as market leader tapping 8.4 per cent of the market followed by Compaq which managed to capture 7.3 per cent of market share, IDC said."However, Compaq, the world's largest PC vendor, remains a leading competitor in most of Asia's country markets," the document said.Chinese vendor, Legend captured 7.1 per cent of the market share and claimed the third-place rank followed by Samsung whose shipments rode the wave of Korea's economic recovery in 1999.Despite its ability to gain share, HP's position dropped from the previous third one to the present standing of fifth, it said adding HP's regional position was damaged by strong performances of Legend and Samsung in their captive markets.The document said Korea, the second-largest market, contributed the most toregional growth with an annual shipment increase of 79.2 per cent spurred by the government programme in the fourth quarter to bring low-priced computers to the masses.
