Lenovo tablet launch in next two quarters

Lenovo, the China based technology and computers major, is set to introduce tablet computers in the Indian market within the next two quarters, Amar Babu, managing director, Lenovo India, said on Friday.

"We will launch the tablet in China this quarter following which it will be launched in India. While determining prices currently would be tough, it would be correct to say that these will be priced comparable to products currently available", Babu said.

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Discounting the adverse effect that the tablet could have on the personal computer, Babu said that the netbook segment would in all probability be most threatened with the adoption of tablet computers.

"While pads and tablets can be substitutes to netbooks, I do not see a threat to PCs given the difference in the usage models and frame of reference", he said.

Besides the tablet, Lenovo will launch in the near future a specialty computer called the U1, which is will function as a dual PC and pad.

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Lenovo, which is the number one player in the PC and computer segments in China registered a growth rate of 62 per cent in the Indian market last quarter vis-a-vis a market growth rate of 30 per cent.

The PC giant, at present occupies about a 10 per cent of the market in India is the fourth ranked player behind HP, Dell and Acer and is looking an export of products and 'best practices' from China into India in an effort to become the market leader in India as well.

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"All our products will be launched in China first and based on volumes achieved will be launched in India which is a priority market now. We are looking at a growth rate more than the market which is slated to grow at 15-20 per cent over the next five years," he said.

The company is at present the market leader in the enterprise segment with a 22 per cent stake in India.

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The segment forms 25 per cent of the overall computer market in the country.

"We are looking at increased marketing and consumer outreach plans. We have invested heavily into the Lenovo lite stores as part of the strategy and are looking at opening about 1,000 stores by the end of 2011", he said.