Connect with us

Telecom

Lenovo Maintains Status as Top OEM in the Traditional PC Space Ahead of HP, Dell & Apple

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Preliminary results from International Data Corporation’s Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker for the fourth quarter of 2018 (4Q18) shows shipments of traditional PCs (desktop, notebook, and workstation) totaled just over 68.1 million units, marking a decline of 3.7% in year-on-year terms.

 

The results slightly outperformed the forecast, which called for a decline of 4.7%, but also produced the largest year-on-year decline since the third quarter of 2016 (3Q16) and capped the full year at a nearly flat rate of -0.4%.

 

Heading into the quarter there was industry-wide concern over processor shortages and rising economic tensions between the U.S. and China.

 

Aggressive stocking of inventory during the previous quarter (3Q18) in anticipation of the shortage led to some sell-through challenges, driving a reduction of Q4 shipments in some regions.

 

The fourth quarter is typically oriented toward consumer promotions that help drive the industry’s biggest quarter of the year, but the confluence of events in 2018 led to the lowest sequential growth for a holiday quarter since the fourth quarter of 2012.

 

Nonetheless, the market performed better than expected, with corporate PC refresh – driven by the looming Windows 7 end of life (EOL) in January 2020 – helping to offset consumer market challenges.

 

Japan had an especially strong quarter driven by commercial refresh, which lifted virtually all aspects of the market.

 

All regions except the U.S. exceeded the forecast, although Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) faced challenges from a difficult Chinese commercial environment.

 

Maciek Gornicki, research manager with IDC’s Asia/Pacific Client Devices Group,said “The ongoing economic tensions between China and the United States continue to create a lot of uncertainty in the business environment in China.

 

“As demand for Chinese products in the U.S. drops, this particularly impacts businesses of all sizes from the manufacturing sector in China, which, in turn, translates to a drop in IT purchases by these companies.

 

“As a result, the PC market in China is expected to suffer bigger declines throughout the year.

 

“And if the trade war escalates further, we should expect spillover of the impact to other countries, particularly due to the expected fluctuations of the exchange rates impacting businesses across the region.”

 

Neha Mahajan, senior research analyst with IDC’s Devices and Displays Group, said “As the U.S. PC market, especially the lower-end, continued to suffer from the ongoing shortfall of Intel CPUs, overall PC sales took a hit during the fourth quarter of 2018.

“While the processor supply challenges are expected to continue into the first two quarters of 2019, PC makers are likely to see the situation improve before the back-to-school season begins during the latter half of the year.”

 

Regional Highlights shows that the traditional PC market in the U.S. saw a modest uptick in volume from the year prior.

 

Total shipments for the quarter reached 16.7 million units, which was slightly below forecast.

 

Commercial shipments remained fairly robust during the quarter, thanks to the ongoing Windows 10 refresh cycle.

 

While market leader HP saw its year-over-year volumes modestly decline (despite a quarter-over-quarter improvement), the other top five vendors mostly saw volumes improve.

 

Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA): The traditional PC market was negative in 4Q18 for the first time in six quarters with both desktop and notebooks reporting a moderate decline.

 

This weakening of the market stemmed from the ongoing component shortages and was further impacted by a level of disruption and uncertainty arising from challenging geopolitical and economic scenarios within major economies in the region.

 

Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) (APeJ): The traditional PC market in APeJ posted a single-digit decline in 4Q18, which was relatively close to IDC’s forecast.

 

Overstock in the channels, coupled with Intel CPU shortages, impacted sell-in across the region.

 

In India, a significant drop in consumer demand together with high inventory remaining in the channels led to a stronger than expected decline in the consumer and SMB segments, while Intel supply shortages led to a drop in sales to the enterprise customers.

 

In China, the commercial PC market came in below expectations, impacted by Intel CPU shortages and slowness in spending from the public sector, while U.S.-China trade issues had a negative effect on demand from the private sector.

 

Japan: Corporate Windows 10 refresh entered its final phase and helped to beat expectations for 4Q18, with growth among virtually all OEMs, although multinational OEMs reaped most of the benefits.

 

While Company Highlights reveals that Lenovo maintained its status as the top OEM in the traditional PC space, and one of only two top 5 companies to post growth in the quarter compared to a year ago. Its U.S. operation continued to recover from a year ago.

 

In APeJ, Lenovo felt increased pressure from HP and Dell, and posted the largest decline within the region among the three vendors.

 

HP Inc. declined 3.2% worldwide mostly due to a challenging quarter in the Americas.

 

The company fell below market growth in the U.S. where unfavorable comparisons arose due to strong results in 4Q17.

At the same time the company weathered the APeJ market slide better than many of its rivals and tieda with Lenovo in global market share for all of 2018.

 

Dell Inc. had the strongest year-on-year growth among the top OEMs at 1.6% for the quarter and ended 2018 growing 5.6% over 2017, also the strongest among the top OEMs.

 

Apple remained in the fourth position with market share of 7.2% and year-on-year growth of -3.8%. Both desktop and notebook shipments saw year-on-year declines in 4Q18.

 

Acer Group took fifth place with market share of 6.7% and a year-on-year decline of 8.5%. Acer continues to compete in the gaming space, which remains a big focus for the company in 2019, but challenges within the component constraints likely affected its overall consumer business in 4Q18.


Kindly share this post

Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

Telecom

How Zabira is Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Financial independence is no longer a distant dream but a daily reality, especially for young entrepreneurs cashing out weekly through innovative platforms like Zabira.

From trading gift cards to paying bills with crypto-converted naira, Zabira is proving to be more than just a fintech app; it’s a complete digital marketplace designed to fuel the ambitions of the next generation of hustlers.

With users reportedly earning up to ₦150,000 weekly from ongoing campaigns, Zabira has become a go-to platform for side income and full-time digital entrepreneurship.

Its frequent cashback campaigns reward both new and existing users, allowing them to earn 2% cashback on their first crypto trade and 3% on their first gift card trade, a simple but powerful incentive that reduces entry barriers for young people stepping into digital finance.

But Zabira isn’t just about trading; it’s about everyday life. In a move to deepen its utility and promote seamless living, the platform has expanded its bill payment business unit. Users can now pay for airtime, data, electricity (PHCN), TV subscriptions, and even fund wallets for platforms like Bet9ja, all within the Zabira App.

Zabira allows users to make utility and other payments directly using crypto. For added flexibility, users can also instantly convert their crypto to naira, removing any limitations and ensuring seamless transactions without bank delays or downtime.

This subtle integration of crypto into daily transactions is a major leap forward in digital financial inclusion. It not only helps normalise the use of digital assets but also provides practical avenues for users to derive real-world value from their crypto holdings.

Zabira also understands the frustrations of online subscriptions, especially when traditional bank cards fail. Through its robust gift card marketplace, users can buy and use cards for platforms like Netflix, Spotify, Google Play, Apple, Amazon, and more.

These cards offer a reliable alternative for accessing services that are increasingly essential for both work and leisure and are especially helpful for digital creatives, remote workers, and students.

Beyond utility, the platform keeps the entrepreneurial spirit alive with bonus campaigns on first-time gift card trades, creating more reasons for users to engage and earn. With every trade, Zabira positions itself not just as a service provider but as a digital enabler supporting users on their financial journey.

In a country where access to financial tools can often feel like a privilege, Zabira is leveling the playing field. Whether you’re a student looking to subscribe to an online course, a freelancer paying for tools, or a small business owner funding your daily operations, Zabira is building the infrastructure that turns these goals into everyday wins.

To get started using Zabira, users can download the app on Android and iOS devices.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Driving Digital Inclusion: Anambra’s Mobile Tech Hub Brings Free WiFi to the People

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The Geeks & Founders Alliance for Soludo (GEFAS) has taken another bold step in supporting Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of a smart, connected Anambra with the official launch of its Mobile Tech Hub- a custom-built bus bringing free WiFi directly to the people.

Fully equipped with high-speed internet, voice and data services, and backup power, the GEFAS Mobile Tech Hub can connect up to 3,000 people at rallies, campaign grounds, and public spaces: expanding the Solution WiFi initiative already live at over 26 locations across Anambra.

The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, flagged off the Mobile Tech Hub at a brief ceremony held on Thursday, 24th July 2025, at the Tower of Light, Emeka Anyaoku Boulevard, Awka.

He was joined by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu; the Deputy Chief of Staff/Chief Protocol to the Governor, Chief Chinedu Nwoye; other senior government officials; the media; and the GEFAS community.

Dr. Ibezim, visibly excited as he inspected the hub’s features, described it as an initiative perfectly aligned with what the Governor is doing in the state.

“We don’t expect anything less from Agbata, who is a guru in this field: exactly why the Governor puts square pegs in square holes,” he said, pointing to the sophistication of the project and the Governor’s deliberate choices.

“I hear wherever this vehicle parks, people can connect freely, in line with our mantra of making Anambra a place to live, invest, work, relax, and enjoy

“I thank Agbata for this great feat and assure our government’s support to make Anambra the smart mega city we all desire

He further emphasized that this will not be a one-off.

“Mr. Governor is also working to make this permanent. We are not just going to leave you with one vehicle. So I encourage everyone: wherever you see this bus parked, connect to the free WiFi and get your job done.” he concluded.

Earlier in his remarks, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, GEFAS Convener and MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, said:

“We are here to celebrate innovation made possible by Mr. Governor’s forward-thinking policies, like waiving Right of Way (RoW) charges, which opened up fibre optic expansion and connectivity across Anambra.

“Today, various public places, student lodges, and even four higher institutions in the state already enjoy free WiFi, just as Governor Soludo promised in his People’s Manifesto.

“Now, with this Mobile Tech Hub, wherever the Governor goes during the campaign period, people can enjoy free connectivity and high-speed internet.

“All over the world, we know that when broadband expands, the economy grows.

He added, “Data is expensive these days, so this bus will bring relief to Ndi Anambra.

“Wherever you see it passing through your neighborhood, you can hop online for free- maybe download a movie, a song, or do whatever you like.

It’s a practical solution that the Solution Government is delivering. So, vote Governor Soludo, and let the Solution continue” Agbata concluded.

The bus is set to hit the road in the coming days, following Governor Soludo to campaign grounds and reaching far more neighborhoods in earnest.

With this milestone, GEFAS reaffirms its commitment to helping Anambra become the smart, connected, and prosperous state that every citizen can proudly call home.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

MTN Media Innovation Programme Fellows Gain Insight into Nigeria’s Connectivity Backbone

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Fellows of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) embarked on an intensive industry tour recently, gaining firsthand experience of MTN Nigeria’s infrastructure and learning how technology is shaping the future of connectivity and storytelling.

L-R: Dr Chike Mgbeadichie, Programs Director, Professional Education, School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University; Blessings Mosugu, Vice President, MTN Media Innovation Programme Cohort 4; Yahaya Ibrahim, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Nigeria; Rebecca Edun, Social Director, MTN MIP Cohort 4 and Isaac Ogugua-Ezechukwu, Programs Administrator, Professional Education, School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University, during the July session of the MTN Media Innovation Program held at the MTN Plaza, Ikoyi, recently.

The day began with a visit to the MTN Cable Landing Station, where the Fellows explored the facility that serves as a gateway for international data traffic. The tour provided insights into the network that powers Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

At the MTN Switch in Aromire, the group observed key operations ensuring seamless connectivity across the country. They were guided through the processes that keep millions of Nigerians connected daily.

Later at MTN’s Head Office in Falomo, the Fellows engaged in two sessions with the company’s executives.

Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, discussed the role of 5G and IoT in driving innovation and storytelling in the media. “5G is not just about speed; it’s an enabler of experiences,” she said. “With ultra-low latency and massive device connectivity, we can deliver high-definition content production, virtual reality experiences and cloud-native workflows that redefine how journalists create and audiences consume media.”

The CMO also noted that MTN’s leadership in 5G since 2022 has opened doors for industries such as healthcare, education, and entertainment to innovate.

In a session on network innovation and digital transformation, MTN’s Chief Technical Officer, Yahaya Ibrahim, shared how the company is leveraging artificial intelligence for demand planning and network optimisation. “AI allows us to predict faults, automate maintenance and plan smarter for Nigeria’s unique needs,” he said.

He also highlighted the technical challenges of maintaining network stability. “From seamless handovers between base stations to combating fibre cuts and vandalism, we work around the clock because connectivity is critical to the economy and to people’s lives,” Ibrahim said.

The day provided Fellows with a comprehensive understanding of MTN’s infrastructure and the technologies shaping Nigeria’s digital future, reinforcing the programme’s goal of empowering media professionals to tell richer, more informed stories about the industry.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending