Gartner Says Mobile PC Sales Helped Drive Latin America PC Shipments to 25 Percent Growth in Second Quarter of 2006

STAMFORD, Conn., August 15, 2006 — Personal computer shipments in Latin America reached 4.1 million units in the second quarter of 2006, an increase of 25 percent over the same period in 2005, according to Gartner, Inc. Mobile PC sales increased 100 percent in the second quarter of 2006.

“Mobile PC sales took away sales from the desktop market more than ever this quarter. Retail sales are skyrocketing with 46 percent of mobile PCs sold to home users vs. 40 percent in the second quarter of 2005,” said Luis Anavitarte, vice president and research director for Gartner’s Latin American research. “Local branded and international vendors accelerated their expansion into the market affecting sales of white boxes (generic machines). The white box market increased only 6 percent in the second quarter vs. 17 percent in the second quarter of 2005, possibly signaling a more serious approach of users toward PC services.”

HP posted the strongest growth among the top international PC vendors. HP’s overall unit shipments increased 68 percent (see Table 1), while it’s mobile PC business grew 131 percent. Local vendors overall achieved 74 percent growth, with Brazilian Positivo Informatica as the leader among local vendors with 134 percent growth.

Table 1
Latin America PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2Q06 (Units)

Company	2Q06 Shipments	2Q06 Market Share (%)	2Q05 Shipments	2Q05 Market Share (%)	Growth (%)
Hewlett-Packard	483,135	11.9	287,523	8.8	68.0
Dell	346,600	8.5	239,200	7.3	44.9
Positivo Informatica	200,262	4.9	85,739	2.6	133.6
Others	3,044,249	74.7	2,652,505	81.3	14.8
Total Market	4,074,246	100.0	3,264,967	100.0	24.8

Note: Table includes desk-based PCs and notebooks. Puerto Rico included.

Source: Gartner Dataquest (August, 2006)

“In addition to Intel’s IT investment commitment with Brazil, growth of low-cost PC programs in some countries with the adoption of Windows XP Starter Edition, broadband and wireless connectivity growth, and unsaturated PC markets, the region continues to enjoy good macroeconomic performance. This is also helping to expand credit via banks and to create a phenomenally robust retail segment, particularly in Chile,” Mr. Anavitarte said.

Brazil led the region with PC shipments close to 1.7 million units. Sales in Argentina and Venezuela posted the strongest growth and reached solid numbers with 345,000 and 159,000 units sold in the quarter, respectively.

Gartner Dataquest's Personal Computer Quarterly Statistics Latin America program surveys the leading worldwide and local PC makers in Latin America. This program offers the most detailed and timely information on the Latin America PC market. To subscribe to this program, please call 408-468-8000. Additional information on Gartner Dataquest programs can be found on Gartner’s Web site at www.gartner.com/it/products/research/dataquest.jsp.

Contact:


Christy Pettey
Gartner
+1 408 468 8312
christy.pettey@gartner.com


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