ASUS Expands Operations
ASUSTeK Computer Inc (ASUS), the world’s top provider of motherboards and a leading provider of notebook computers, held seminars across the Kingdom last week for its channel partners to put forward the company’s business strategy and technologies.
Asus has started up a fully functional office in Saudi Arabia. The company is scheduled to launch new notebooks based on the advanced Duo-Centrino Platform (Napa). The W2J, A7J, W5F, A6J and V6J notebooks will provide increased performance for multitasking with longer battery life and better power management. ASUS is also introducing its GPS PDAs. The A636 and A632 models have the latest navigation technology and the PDA Phone P505, provides communications solutions for the Kingdom.
ASUS’s partner for communications is Al-Haddad Communications and for notebooks and components ASUS has partnered with Empa Middle East. Its notebook service partner is Redington Arabia.
“ASUS is targeting maximum market share in all our product range without compromising quality and its technology leading position,” said George Su, account manager, Middle East. “We believe with the strong presence and added value from Al-Haddad progress for all is assured.”
Ministries Serious About Antipiracy
A special-purpose committee including representatives from Culture and Information Ministry, Interior Ministry, Commerce Ministry, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), the copyright department in the Western Province and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) recently raided a Jeddah-based private business suspected of using pirated software and confiscated hardware and pirated software products being used by the company. The raid was launched as part of a wider campaign aimed at showing the government’s commitment to protect intellectual property rights in Saudi Arabia.
“This campaign aims at stressing the Saudi commitment to protect all kinds of intellectual property and highlighting how we are serious about facing the pirates, fighting copyright infringements, particularly after Saudi Arabia has joined World Trade Organization (WTO) and signed agreements to protect all kind of intellectual property like software, audiovisual and intellectual properties products,” remarked Said Al-Ghamdi, general director of culture and information, Makkah.
BSA is also planning to hit pirates hard in the pocket.
“We are going to force the pirates to pay proper compensation, even in million riyals, to the copyright holders,” stressed Mohammed Al-Dhabaan, Saudi representative and lawyer of BSA. He added that BSA is currently collaborating with the Culture and Information Ministry to spread the awareness of intellectual property in the Saudi community and to help the businesses and corporations legalize their usage of the copyright products. “Our campaigns are targeting only the businesses that are resistant to help in preserving other’s rights,” Al-Dhabaan added.
Dell Grows on Sales Outside the US
Dell achieved record revenue of $15.2 billion and earnings of 43 cents per share driven by growth in enterprise products and services and sales outside the United States in the fiscal fourth-quarter 2006. Dell’s enterprise business in the quarter — including storage, servers, services and related software and peripherals — increased worldwide by 21 percent year-over-year. Storage revenue was up 41 percent year-over-year. Dell’s business outside the US increased in the quarter by 21 percent year-over-year, reflecting Dell’s success in growth areas of Europe and Asia Pacific. Dell’s fourth quarter revenue of $15.2 billion was a 13 percent year-over-year increase. Revenue for the fiscal year was $56 billion, a 14 percent increase. The company expects first quarter fiscal year 2007 revenue of $14.2 to $14.6 billion.
Sales outside the US were an all-time high of 43 percent of the company’s overall revenue for the fourth quarter, up from 40 percent in the previous quarter. The company gained share in every region during the year. Revenue in Europe, Middle East and Africa was up 18 percent year-over-year and Dell increased its share in 16 of 19 direct countries in the region. Shipments increased 25 percent year-over-year, led by an increase of 54 percent in mobility products.
Dell continued to hold the No. 1 worldwide share position. Dell shipped 37 million units in the year, a 19 percent increase over the previous year, and a record 10.2 million units in the fourth quarter, a 15 percent year-over-year increase. The transition to mobility products worldwide resulted in revenue increases of 22 percent on shipment increases of 47 percent year-over-year. Dell increased storage revenues 41 percent year-over-year. Shipment of servers increased 11 percent year-over-year, with strong growth in EMEA. Revenue for enhanced services was up 26 percent. Revenue for imaging products was up 17 percent year-over-year as Dell moved its focus from single-function inkjets to color laser and all-in-one inkjet printers. Consumable revenue continued to grow and contribute more to overall imaging revenue, driving stronger profitability.
Dell announced its first dual-core, widescreen notebook during the quarter, one of three new products that deliver previously unavailable features to enhance customers’ experience in high-end gaming and mobile productivity. Dell announced the Inspiron E1705 with Intel Core Duo processors and a 17-inch display, the XPS 600 Renegade desktop gaming system and a 30-inch LCD monitor, all providing extreme performance. Dell XPS desktop and notebook shipments were up 20 percent year-over-year, which helped to drive a richer mix of product sold in the consumer business.