Acer-HDS storage

Database News : Thursday December 06, 2007

STORAGE / PARTNERSHIP TARGETS SMB MARKET

Acer-HDS storage

SASIWIMON BOONRUANG

Acer and Hitachi Data System (HDS) have launched co-branded "Acer-Hitachi Data Systems" storage products for small and medium businesses (SMBs) here.

According to HDS Thailand country manager Taveesak Saengthong, the mid-range storage business in Thailand this year was projected to be worth around four billion baht, including hardware and software, representing three quarters of the market, while the growth in the enterprise sector was negative.

HDS's strengthes lay in having its own R&D technology and that it manufactured disk drive products itself with a 42 percent market share worldwide, he said.

Thailand was one of four countries in Asia where co-branded Acer-Hitachi products were being offered, the others being Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan, The collaboration was long-term and global and Acer's teams of engineers had been certified by HDS, Taveesak said.

"Hitachi is a newcomer to the SMB market and we would like to understand the requirements," he said.

The co-branded products would benefit customers as they were totally-integrated, best-of-breed technologies ranging from servers, to storage, notebooks and PCs from Acer. Users could also gain cost savings because they simplify the installation, support and service, Taveesak said.

Acer Computer (Thailand) general manager Alan Chiang said Acer was the leading supplier to SMBs in Thailand.

Citing IDC figures, he said Acer had captured a 28% market share in the SMB and consumer PC market during the second quarter of this year, with a 32% share of the consumer market alone.

Acer has improved its service strategy since 2005 and now had 128 authorised service centres. nationwide, he said.

Chiang added that Acer had targetted to capture around a 45% market share in the mid-range storage market.

Co-branded products included the Workgroup Modular Storage (WMS) model 100, the Adaptable Modular Storage (AMS) model 200 and a new entry-level model 100 Simple Modular Storage (SMS).

By : Bangkok Post