Cell phones have become so important in everyday life that individuals cannot leave the house without them. They have been selling like hotcakes, so to speak, but Hewlett-Packard International (HP) has not joined the other players in cashing in on the rapidly increasing trend. Nevertheless, HP seems to be doing well.
In an exclusive interview with Rodolfo C. Estimo Jr. Arab News in Riyadh, Laszio Czinege, director and country manager for Printing and Personal Systems in Saudi Arabia, shares HP’s strategy in the Kingdom.
Following is the text of the interview:
You have not been that visible in the cell phone market compared to the other players in the industry. What is the reason?
The Kingdom has a large population compared to other countries in the region. Because of the strong economy, people also have large disposable incomes, or money they can either be spent or saved. We decided to focus on products we are known for like laptops, computers and photocopiers, among others. These products have become standard office equipment of companies across the Kingdom. Our relentless efforts to regularly inform and train our resellers about our new key products have also been paying off. We have also been urging them to display our new products on their shelves. And we’re doing well, even beyond our expectations.
Most industry players don’t rest on their laurels but regularly come up with new products. What are you doing in this regard?
We also don’t exactly lie back. Recently, we launched our latest product, the HP ENVY x2, which is a uniquely designed hybrid laptop that gives people more choices in how they access information. The new product is a powerful and ultra-thin hybrid laptop with the advantages of two devices in one. It has a detachable screen that becomes a full tablet when separated from the keyboard via a seamless magnetic latch. Customers no longer have to choose between a laptop and a tablet — they can have both in one device.
Is there a comparable product on the market?
Yes and no. Yes, there is a product that has some features similar to ours. No, because there are many differences between the two. Ours completely solves the ‘Do I bring my notebook or tablet?’ dilemma. Consumers can get the power of a notebook and the freedom of a tablet in one stylish, lightweight device. Featuring a sleek aluminum finish and an innovative hinge with magnets that smoothly guide the tablet into place, the HP ENVY x2 weighs just 0.7 kg. It has a separate battery in each device, both last for ten-and-a-half hours. Our competitor’s product has only one battery. HP ENVY x2 costs SR 3,000 on the Saudi market.”
What is HP’s share in the local IT market?
“We’re the industry leader, although we can’t divulge figures. In personal computers, HP has a 23 percent market share and 70 percent in printing machines.”
