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CPILIVE.NET: UMPCs catch Middle East fancy

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Is it me or is the UMPC market developing slowly (as did the Tablet PC)?  Is it the device?  Lack of good software?  Marketing issues?  Who knows, but it seems slower than expected.

That’s why I always like to see stories like this one about UMPC adoption.  Apparently Middle Eastern countries are seeing a good use for the portable tiny units across the Gulf!

Even as vendors made a low-key entry into the UMPC market, sales of the devices have beaten market expectations across the Gulf. Corporate buyers in particular have been driving purchases.

Since Intel’s showcasing of its reference design for UMPC variants, players like ASUS, Samsung and Sony have made an entry into the market with full function, ultra mobile PC devices. According to Intel’s GM Gulf Countries Samir Al-Schamma, the UMPC in different forms is expected to promote digital transformation significantly in the region. ““We see that connectivity and portability go together, which means that WIMAX connectivity and ultra portability can actually put these devices in the hands of every customer and executive user,” says Al-Schamma.

At Gitex 2006, four players — Samsung, ASUS, Sony and a new player Nawaiya showcased their UMPC offerings.

Calling it the world’s smallest and lightest PC, Sony Gulf has introduced its VAIO UX17GP full function UMPC in the Middle East sporting a price tag of AED 7995. Using the Intel Centrino Mobile Technology and Windows XP Professional, the VAIO UX weighs just over 500gms and offers 30GB of hard disk capacity. These features allow users to access familiar applications such as Internet access, e-mail, various computer applications, games and music in the same way as they would on a full-sized computer.

Sony Gulf Senior Manager, IT Marketing Division, Dharmendra Lalai says the response to the device that has been on sale since September 2006 has been phenomenal………”

Hmmm, maybe it is all that oil money that is making the sales, “phenomenal”  :-)

Read the entire story here.

Via: Tablet PC Talk

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