THE Philippine arm of a Taiwanese computer company plans to increase its provincial market share in the country after it observed that the laptop penetration rate in the provinces is slower compared to Metro Manila.

Acer Philippines Inc. country manager Manuel Wong said that at pre-sent, its provincial market accounts for 20 percent of its total market share in the country.

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“The Visayas and Mindanao (markets) are big potential markets,” he added.

To do this, Acer will make sure products that are available in Metro Manila will also be made available in Cebu and Davao.

Wong said that Cebu, being a “booming city,” will also become home to Acer’s service center in the Visayas, which the company plans to put up next year—in addition to its more than 70 authorized service providers nationwide.

Wong admitted that aside from availability, affordability is another concern of provincial markets. But he said that this can
be addressed by educating the market since it is only a matter of “giving the right product.”

“If one can invest in mobile phones, why not laptops,” he said, adding that the cost difference between mobile phones and laptops is not big since there are netbooks that are priced below P25,000.

Functionality

He said there is also a need to emphasize to the market the functionality of laptops. If a user knows ones priorities, then one can find a product that will best address his needs, he added.

Acer wants to expand its market to include students and housewives. “I believe these markets should be given equal opportunity to (avail themselves) of laptops,” he said.

The company will also make it a point to make Cebu and Davao as launching pads for its new products.

Last Wednesday in Cebu, Acer launched its latest product, the Aspire Timeline series of notebooks. Acer also went to Davao last Friday to launch the Timeline series there.

The Aspire Timeline, said Wong, is Acer’s answer to the needs of customers who wants a highly functional product that can be used anywhere.

Being the first ultra low voltage notebook, the Timeline series of notebooks promises longer battery life and weighs at least 1.6 kilograms for the one with a 13.3-inch display screen.

The Aspire Timeline notebooks are also the first device that uses Intel’s ultra low voltage processors, which fit in 0.8 inches thick laptops.

Ricky Banaag, Intel Philippines’ country manager, said the company reduced its regular sized processors by 60 percent for the Aspire Timeline.