Lenovo drops mainland share

Lenovo Group's mainland market share dropped sharply to 31.3% in the first quarter of 2006 from 36% in the preceding quarter, according to International Data Corp (IDC) figures. But the first-quarter figure was up on the same period last year, when Lenovo and IBM posted a combined share of 29.6%. Founder Group retained its number two spot with 12.7%, up from 12.5%, while global giants Dell and Hewlett-Packard also made gains. Dell took number three spot at 9.3%, up from 9.1% last quarter, and Hewlett-Packard was fourth at 7.7%, up from 6.8% in the preceding quarter. Lenovo last week reported a fourth-quarter loss, which reduced its full-year profit to US$173.23 million from US$1.12 billion a year earlier. Chairman Yang Yuanqing said it was likely to be three to five quarters before the company starts showing healthy growth and profits.