Asus, a notebook vendor, is not going to pass on the burden caused by the appreciation of dollar to consumers.

The company, which has a market share of 5-7 per cent in the consumer notebook market (IDC), don’t have a manufacturing facility in the country and depends on imports. IDC pegged the notebook market at 5.5 million units a year, with 65 per cent of it being consumer market.

“We have increased the prices by 3-5 per cent after the dollar appreciated. But the increase is not in proportion to the appreciation of the dollar. We are going to absorb the burden,” Apratim Sharma Poduct Centre Head (India) of Asus, told Business Line .

More retail stores

Unaez Quraishi, Director (Sales and Distribution) of Asus said the company would open 120 more exclusive retail stores in the country by March 31, 2014, with a focus on tier-II and tier-III cities. This will take the total number of stores to 200.

The Asus executives were in the city in connection with the launch of a store here, its fifth in the State and first in Hyderabad.

The company is targeting to achieve a share of 10 per cent in the consumer notebook market. It, however, felt that the tablet market was still evolving and hoped that it would take a proper shape some time next year.

“We are anticipating a big traction in phablets (smartphones with tablet functionality) next year as many people could not afford to have two gadgets,” Unaez Quraishi said.

Replying to a question on whether the outlook for notebooks and PCs was negative, he said the untapped potential was very big. “The notebook penetration is very low at 8-9 per cent and you can do a lot there,” he said.

>kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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