Taiwan’s Acer Inc.,with Irvine’s Gateway Inc. and Europe’s Packard Bell BV under its belt,grabbed market share from the top two computer makers during the third quarter, according to a recent report.
Including Gateway and Packard Bell, Acer saw its market share grow to 16.2%, up from 11.8% the previous year, according to data from DisplaySearch, an Austin, Texas-based market tracker.
As a stand-alone company, Acer would have had 12.8% of the market in the third quarter.
Acer and its new units shipped 4.7 million notebook computers during the third quarter, according to the report. That’s up 42% from the year ago quarter, when Acer itself shipped 3.3 million.
Notebook PC makers are positioning themselves to better reach consumers, according to DisplaySearch.
“Growing sales to consumers is one of the driving forces behind brands changing strategies,” said John Jacobs, director of notebook market research for DisplaySearch. “Acer’s acquisition of Gateway and Packard Bell, and Dell’s recent announcements of retail partnerships are both examples of brand strategies to increase market share in the consumer sector.”
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Minneapolis bridge collapse: Iteris tapped as engineering partner for rebuild team |
Hewlett-Packard Co. still came out on top with 21.4% market share, up from 18% a year earlier. HP shipped 6.2 million notebooks, up 72% from a year earlier.
HP’s reign as the No. 1 PC maker has lasted for five consecutive quarters, according to DisplaySearch’s data. Until last year, Dell Inc. was No.1.
Dell came in second, with 4 million notebooks shipped, up 12% from a year ago.
Acer came in fourth, followed by No. 5 Toshiba Corp. (2.7 million), No. 6 China’s Lenovo Group Ltd. (2.6 million) and No. 7 Sony Corp. (1.6 million).
The balance was made up by Apple Inc., Fujitsu-Siemens Computers BV, and others.
PC sales, already riding high from back-to-school sales during the third quarter, are set to see another big boost during the holidays, Jacobs said.
DisplaySearch estimates notebook PC shipments will total more than 103 million for the year.
Mobile Exec
Aliso Viejo’s Smith Micro Software Inc., a maker of software for cell phones, hired an executive to head its mobile unit.
Patrick Lilley joined the company as general manager of the mobile device management group, which makes software that can remotely update, diagnose, secure and synchronize cell phones, smart phones and personal digital assistants.
Lilley is set to be in charge of marketing, engineering and business development for the unit.
He previously was vice president of operations for Aliso Viejo-based Datallegro Inc., a privately held maker of data storage gear and software.
Lilley has held positions at Laguna Niguel’s Bitfone Corp., a maker of software that allows wireless carriers to remotely update cell phones. Bitfone was bought by Hewlett-Packard Co. in February. Lilley also has had posts at Toshiba Corp. and Switzerland’s Esmertec AG.
He was chief executive and founder of Digital Transit, which was bought by Bitfone in 2001.
Bridge Builder
Santa Ana’s Iteris Inc., which works with city and state agencies on studies and projects to reduce traffic congestion, said it landed a $368,000 contract for a project a little further a field.
The company is set to serve as the engineering partner on the rebuilding of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed during evening rush hour on Aug. 1, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100.
Iteris is teaming up with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to plan for a new bridge, set to be called the St. Anthony Falls Bridge.
The project is deemed an “emergency design-build” because it’s a critical path for commuters and trucks. It’s expected to be done in late 2008.
“This is a critical, yet sensitive project for the citizens of Minneapolis and its surrounding cities and Iteris is honored to be part of the design-build team,” said Chief Executive Abbas Mohaddes. “We realize there is significant economical impact associated with the loss of this bridge, and support the expedited timeline to finish this project.”
Iteris is a consultant to a structural engineering firm leading the design of the new bridge.
The company is working on the design of ramp meter systems, TV and infrared surveillance gear and a speed detection station, among other electrical and fiber optic communications systems.
A few months ago Iteris made its debut on the Business Journal’s list of fastest growing public companies.
For the 12 months through June 30, the company had sales of about $60 million.
Iteris recently doubled the size of its headquarters after moving from Anaheim to Santa Ana. The company is looking to hire more than 30 workers this year. It counts 235 companywide, with 145 workers in OC.
