奇速英语

三星笔记本将撤出欧洲

Samsung has announced that it is ending sales of its laptop computers in Europe. The move includes its Chromebook model, which had previously been one of the category’s best-sellers.

Samsung signaled it might consider similar action in other parts of the globe. “We quickly adapt to market needs and demands,” said the company in a statement. “In Europe, we will be discontinuing sales of laptops including Chromebooks for now. This is specific to the region - and is not necessarily reflective of conditions in other markets.”

Market analysis firm IDC has predicted that hand-held PC sales will grow by 5.6% this year in well-developed markets, partly offsetting a decline in 2013. It’s apparent that Samsung’s rivals have accounted for what growth there is.

Lenovo recently reported a 17% rise in revenue from notebook sales in its April-to-June quarter compared to the same period the previous year. It claimed that made it the most popular laptop brand in 15 European, Middle Eastern and African nations. Apple also posted a 13% year-on-year rise in Mac sales over the same three months.

“With Samsung you can clearly see the focus shifting towards the tablet and phablet space, and that’s clearly from a consumer’s view where the strength of its brand lies,” commented Windsor Holden from tech consultancy Juniper Research.

Samsung’s smartphones have also come under pressure in recent months. Surveys indicate sales of its phones have been overtaken in India and China by local firms Micromax and Xiaomi. However, in recent weeks its soon-to-be-released Galaxy Note 4 large-screened smartphone and add-on virtual reality headset have both attracted warm reviews.

“What I think you may be seeing from Samsung is a renewed focus on its mobile devices, especially what it is doing in the Android market,” said Rhoda Alexander from the IHS consultancy. “You have a lot of competition in that sector at the moment, and this might be an opportunity for it to concentrate its energies in that direction rather than spreading them all about.”