Acer all set to introduce high-end PC brand in RP

MANILA, Philippines - Taiwanese computer maker Acer is launching its high-end brand Gateway in the Philippines this month despite expectations of reduced consumer spending. The launch, set on February 24, was disclosed by Acer Philippines country manager Manuel Wong during a recent gaming event the company hosted. Gateway first entered the Philippine market as an American-owned firm in the early part of the current decade. But as the company’s fortunes nosedived, Taiwan’s Acer bought in 2007 for $710 million. Thus, its launch this February is actually a re-entry, although now under the management of Acer Philippines. Wong said Gateway will target the upper part of the market and will have a complete line of desktops and laptops, as well as netbooks. The brand will also have its own set of product managers, although Wong said he’ll serve as the overall chief for both Acer and Gateway. “The Gateway products will compete directly with our Acer product line. The only main difference is that Gateway will have a different design and some unique features," said Wong. The official is convinced that Gateway, just like high-end brands, will attract a select group who puts premium on design and uniqueness as a way to differentiate themselves from the rest of the crowd. Wong said his goal is for Gateway to corner at least 5 percent of the market share of Acer, which is about 35 percent. “I’ll be happy if we can achieve that for this year," the mild-mannered executive said. Though not popular in countries like the Philippines, Gateway still has huge base in North America and Europe. The company is best-known for its distinctive cow-spotted boxes, a tribute to its farm heritage. In early 2004, Gateway acquired PC maker eMachines. It then moved its headquarters from San Diego to Irvine, California. But three years later, the company was acquired by Acer, with the combined entities becoming the third-largest PC company in the world. Gateway and eMachines products are still sold exclusively by retailers and channel partners in the United States, Canada, China, Europe, Japan and Mexico. - GMANews.TV