PC sales surge in Latin America
Shipments of notebook computers and PCs grow 25 percent in the third quarter of this year in Latin America, according to a report.
Shipments to the region reached almost 1.63 million units for the quarter, up more than 25 percent from the third quarter of 1998 and up 20 percent from the second quarter of 1999, according to International Data Corp. (IDC) Latin America. Total PC shipment value reached almost US$1.8 billion for the quarter, up more than 12 percent from the second quarter, IDC reported.
Mexico contributed most to the growth surge, IDC reported. Mexico's desktop PC growth was up 82 percent in the quarter, compared to a year ago.
Also fueling the charge is the continuous growth of local PC assemblers and small integrators mainly in Brazil, Chile and Venezuela.
"A particularly successful strategy boosting Mexico's desktop market has been to bundle PCs with Internet service while offering flexible financing options," Alexandra Martinez, analyst for IDC Latin America PC research, said in a statement. "This strategy targets the home and small business segments, tapping into lower economic levels that previously did not have access to this technology."
IDC's research indicates the Latin American PC market will continue to grow rapidly in the coming months. This growth will be led in great part by Mexico's booming PC market and economic recovery in the region.