Acer (company)

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Acer Incorporated
Type Public (TSEC: 2353)
Founded 1976
Founder Stan Shih et al.
Headquarters Taipei, Taiwan
Key people J.T. Wang, Chairman & CEO
Gianfranco Lanci, President
Industry Computer
Products Laptop, Desktop Computers, Servers, IT Services, Handhelds, Monitor, LCD TV, Projector, Digital Camera
Revenue US$11.1 billion (2006)
Net income US$338 million (2006)
Employees 6,554 (2005)
Subsidiaries Acer Computer Australia, Acer India, Acer America Corporation, Gateway, Inc.
Slogan Empowering People
Website www.acer.com

Acer Incorporated. (LSE: ACID) (traditional Chinese: 宏碁股份有限公司) is a Taiwanese multinational electronics manufacturer. It owns the largest franchised computer retail chain in Taipei, Taiwan.[1] Acer is the third largest computer manufacturer in the world (by sales after the HP and Dell Inc). [2] and its product lineup includes desktop and mobile PCs (laptops),as well as personal digital assistants (PDAs), servers and storage, displays, peripherals, and e-business solutions for business, government, education, and home users.

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Multitech, which was founded by Stan Shih (施振榮), his wife Carolyn Yeh, and a group of five others in 1976, and renamed Acer in 1987. It began with eleven employees and US$25,000 in capital. Initially, it was primarily a distributor of electronic parts and a consultant in the use of microprocessor technologies. The global headquarters is in Hsichih City, Taiwan.

In 2000, Acer spun off its manufacturing operation (as Wistron Corporation) to focus itself on branding business. In deciding to support the sales of its product lines through specific marketing activities that best utilise distribution channels, Acer grew worldwide while its labour force contracted. In 2002, the pan Acer Group employed 39,000 people supporting dealers and distributors in more than 100 countries.[citation needed] Revenues reached US$12.9 billion that year.[citation needed] By 2005, Acer employed 7,800 people throughout the world while maintaining a global sales and service network. Revenues were US$4.9 billion in 2003[3] and US$11.31 billion in 2006. Acer's North American market share slipped over the past few years while the European market share has gone up.[4]

In Europe, Acer mounted an association with the Ferrari Formula 1 Team and the former F1 team, Prost Grand Prix in 2001. They offer a popular line of premium laptops and LCD monitors with Ferrari branding. It has recently broadened the scope of its relationship with Ferrari by announcing it will sponsor the Formula One team until 2008. Acer has recently introduced the Ferrari line of products to North America, and rolled out a Ferrari-branded line of PDA devices.

Acer ranks as the world's No. 4 branded PC vendor behind Lenovo.[5]

On August 27, 2007, Acer announced plans to acquire U.S. based rival Gateway Inc. for US$710 million. J.T. Wang, the company's chairman, said in a statement that the acquisition "completes Acer's global footprint, by strengthening our U.S. presence."[6]

During the IFA Consumer Electronics Fair 2007, the Blu-ray Disc Association announced that Acer had joined their ranks. Acer will be adding BD-ROM and BD-R drives to their laptop and desktop systems in their attempt to promote the format.[7]

The Australian subsidiary of Acer is Acer Computer Australia (ACA). The subsidiary was established in 1990, and is currently Australia's third largest personal computer vendor, behind Hewlett-Packard Australia and Dell Australia and New Zealand.[8] Acer Computer Australia has Australia's highest overall market share in notebook PC and tablet PC sales. The company is also Australia's leading PC vendor in government and education markets. Acer Computer Australia has 480 employees as of 2006.[9]

Acer's subsidiary in India is Acer India, which apart from being top in the overall PC desktop and notebook market, is the leading vendor in key segments such as education. Its headquarters are in Bangalore, India. India also posses' the largest Swiss call center in Acer.

Acer is the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region leader in the notebook sector, holding 18% market share in Q1 2005. Confirming its leadership in the EMEA notebook market, in 2005 Acer ranked first in 13 countries: Italy, Spain, Austria, The Netherlands, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Russia, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Europe was the company's biggest market in 2005.[10]

Acer America Corporation, headquartered in San Jose, California, is a member of the Acer Group. Acer's R&D, engineering, manufacturing and marketing operations in the United States and Canada are handled by Acer America Corporation. In September 1990, Acer acquired Altos Computer Systems, one of the top manufacturers of multiuser and networked UNIX computer systems for commercial markets. In February 1997, Acer acquired Texas Instruments's Mobile Computing business, including the award-winning TravelMate and Extensa notebook lines, making Acer the fourth-leading notebook manufacturer in the United States. Acer America's Canadian office, in Mississauga, Ontario, handles sales and marketing, manufacturing, and customer service activities in Canada.

Acer has been the subject of lawsuits, notably from its rival, Hewlett-Packard. According to the lawsuit, Acer was infringing numerous technological patents, including power management in notebooks.[11]

Acer Notebook
Acer Notebook
Acer Aspire 3610 Notebook
Acer Aspire 3610 Notebook
Acer Aspire 5520 Notebook
Acer Aspire 5520 Notebook
Acer Aspire 4520 Notebook
Acer Aspire 4520 Notebook

In 2001, Acer provided sponsorship to the Prost Grand Prix Formula One team, and the team's Ferrari engines were badged as Acers.

Acer currently sponsors the Ferrari Formula 1 team.

On March 19, 2007, Acer announced that they will sponsor the Factory Fiat Yamaha Team for the 2007 MotoGP World Championship season.

  1. ^ About Acer - Milestones. Acer. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
  2. ^ Acer eclipses Lenovo, takes aim at Dell. ITworld.com (2007-10-26). Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
  3. ^ Gianfranco Lanci is appointed President of Acer Inc., effective January 2005 (PDF). Acer (2004-09-01). Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  4. ^ PC market surged in 2005, will settle in 2006. cnet (2006-01-18). Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
  5. ^ Hewlett-Packard Expands PC Market-Share Lead Over Dell in Q3. iSuppli (2007-11-29). Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  6. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20458321/
  7. ^ Acer Joins BDA. Blu-ray.com (2007-08-30). Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
  8. ^ "Another Record Year in 2005 for the ANZ PC Market but IDC sees Change Ahead", IDC Australia press release, 2006-02-22.
  9. ^ "Acer provides wireless access to the bigger picture", Acer Computer Australia press release, 2006-02-10.
  10. ^ http://www.acer.co.in/press/New_President.pdf
  11. ^ http://www.news.com/2100-1014_3-6178354.html
  12. ^ http://global.acer.com/products/pda/e300.htm

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