Dell share of Irish PC sales hits new high

Dell recorded its highest ever market share of personal computers (PCs) in the Republic over the three months to the start of May.

The computer manufacturer noted particular growth in "mobility" products in the Republic, following trends across Europe.

Tim McCarthy, general manager of Dell Ireland, said the company was "well-positioned" in the overall market, which continues to expand in the Republic.

His comments came in the wake of Dell's first-quarter results, which showed net income for the group as a whole had declined to $762 million (€597 million), or 33 US cents per share, from $934 million, or 37 cents per share, a year earlier.

Analysts, on average, had forecast earnings per share of 33 cents and revenue of $14.2 billion.

Group revenues for the quarter rose by 6 per cent to $14.2 billion, while revenues in Europe, most of which are generated from computers made in Limerick, climbed by the same margin to $3.4 billion.

Dell has stumbled in the past year as competitors including number two PC maker Hewlett-Packard offered lower prices by using cheaper components and more efficient manufacturing operations.

A shift on this front came yesterday after Dell said it would now start to use chips made by AMD. Dell had been the last major PC maker to use only chips supplied by Intel. (Additional reporting, Reuters)