HP consolidates its position as the undisputed number 1 PC vendor in the Middle East

Results are based on the release of IDC figures for the first quarter of 2003.

Winning first place across all major segments including desktops, notebooks and tablets, HP also doubled its overall market share lead from 6% to 12% over its nearest competitor in the region. The company increased its marketshare to 19% in the desktop PC market, again putting further daylight between the company and its nearest competitor, which fell to 9.6%.

The total mobile figures were a particular highlight for the company as it saw its figures in this sector grow from 26% to 44% of the market. Marketshare in the commercial mobile market was up from 28% in the last quarter to 48%, with second runner-up following innocuously at 20% market share.

Christoph Schell, General Manager of the Personal Systems Group of HP Middle East said, "These are impressive figures by any measure, and underscore HP's dominance of the PC market in the Middle East. Whether it's desktop PCs, notebooks or Tablet PCs the message is coming through loud and clear from the market - 'we want HP!' By continuing to improve our business model, we have driven competitive pricing in key markets and still managed to deliver the third consecutive quarter of double-digit gross margins.

"We will continue to drive the PC market in the months ahead as we introduce new products, improve our service offering and work even more closely with our channel partners. We will also begin work on our local assembly plant in Saudi Arabia which will grow the market further," Schell added.

Across the countries HP continued to perform well. In Saudi Arabia the company has 36% of the total desktop and mobile market with its nearest competitor trailing 16% behind. In the United Arab Emirates, HP has enjoyed 38% of the total desktop and mobile market, followed by its closest rival at 13% market share. In the mobile space alone, HP holds a commanding lead in each country standing at 42 % in Saudi Arabia and 28% marketshare in the United Arab Emirates.