Product Parade

April 30, 2005
HCL, Toshiba chalk out retail strategy to tap into India's laptop market

New Delhi -- With industry experts and analysts predicting India's laptop market to grow over 100 percent this year, Toshiba Singapore's Computer Systems Division and its Toshiba Mobile Computing Partner HCL Infosystems, India's leading IT enabler and integrator, chalked out an aggressive retail strategy to achieve significant market share in the segment.

Toshiba, in partnership with HCL Infosystems, intends to expand its direct accounts coverage, technical service centres, after-sales support and dealer channel networks in the country. Also, on the anvil is significantly beefing up its retail presence in India through its concept stores called 'shopToshiba' and 'iShops'.

As the notebook markets in the US and Europe reach saturation points, Asian countries are expected to be the growth markets for this segment. Toshiba has identified India as one of the key growth markets given its current stable political climate and business potential. Towards this end, the company has launched a series of products in India as part of its worldwide launch. With its focus on providing the latest technology innovations in notebooks that meets customer's needs, these products are expected to help Toshiba garner a bigger market share in the Indian market.

The new line up includes the latest Satellite M40 series offering professional multi-media performance with wide screen clear SuperView technology; Toshiba's PORTEGE S100 notebook which is the world's first thin and light notebook supporting RAID solution; PORTEGE M300 at the all-in-one reliable ultra portable at 1.58kg with system bumpers and spill resistant keyboard and Satellite R-10 - the new wide screen notebook with handwriting facility.

The PORTEGE M300 also incorporates a broad range of connectivity options including integrated Wi- Fi {IEEE 802.11b), 10/100 Ethernet. It also includes three USB 2.0 ports to support the higher 1/0 bandwidth requirements of today's peripherals. In addition, the PORTEGE series also includes ConfigFreeTM software that users can troubleshoot network issues for hassle- free connectivity.

The Satellite R-10 is built on the success of Toshiba's ability in offering advanced wireless connectivity with Intel@ CentrinoTM mobile technology and a dual axis accelerometer which allows users to manually tilt the notebook up or down, for scroll type functionality. It works as an everyday notebook computer, but includes an innovative display that rotates and folds back for convenient information viewing and sharing, and offers a choice of data input modes such as typing, writing or speech.

The new PORTEGE S100 is specially designed for mobile business users, SOHO, students as well as individuals demanding a stylish and affordable ultra portable without compromising portability and computing power in the field. It also includes three USB 2.0 ports, fast Infra-Red port, a Secure Digital@ slot and an i.LINK (IEEE 1394) port for connectivity to a broad range of today's peripherals as well as convenient transfer of digital images and video content.

The Satellite M40 offers a range of connectivity choices, including wired Ethernet LAN, modem for dial- up access, three USB 2.0, SD slot and CF slot that allow users to connect various peripherals, such as digital cameras or other portable devices.

Rajendra Kumar, vice president, operations, HCL Infosystems, said: "Toshiba is among the leading notebook brands in the country. Its technological leadership, combined with HCL Infosystem's operational and distribution strengths, will help us leverage the huge opportunity in the Indian laptop market. We will continue to reach out to newer markets offering a wide range of exciting choices to the upwardly mobile consumers who want the latest sophisticated technologies to be integrated into their mobile computing devices."

Ivan Kam, distributor business manager, Toshiba Singapore's Computer Systems Division, said: "Our technological leadership allows us to inspire more ground-breaking innovative notebook computers designed to fit the varying computing needs of our customers. We will continue to push the limits of technological innovation to bring Indian customers industry-leading solutions with superior performance. Our partnership with HCL Infosystems ensures that we will be in a position to reach out to every Indian consumer who aspires to own a Toshiba product."