Windows with Bing keeps PC ball rolling

UK shipments through distribution rise 19.1 per cent in January, according to Context

PC shipments through the western European channel soared in January as end users continued to snap up cheap Windows with Bing notebooks.

According to market watcher Context, shipments of notebooks, desktops and PCs workstations through distributors in nine key western European markets rose 9.5 per cent year on year in January as the Bing effect continued to make itself felt.

The UK outperformed the wider market, with units up 19.1 per cent, compared with a 4.5 per cent rise in France and 10.8 per cent fall in Germany.

Across the region, consumer sales rose 12.4 per cent in the first month of the year as the market continued to benefit from the Q4 2014 sell-in push of low-cost consumer notebooks, including those based on Windows 8.1 with Bing.

Western European shipments of business-targeted PCs jumped by a more modest 6.5 per cent in January, with desktop sales falling 14.3 per cent as the XP migration effect continued to wane. Although business-targeted notebook sales rose 23.8 per cent, just as in the consumer segment growth was driven mainly by lower-priced units.

"The strong Q4 sell-in of budget notebooks and Bing laptops not only benefited consumer sales in the channel in January but also helped to push volume growth in the business segment,” said Marie-Christine, senior analyst at Context.

“Nearly 16 per cent of business-targeted Notebooks going through distribution in January were based on Bing."

Average selling prices are set to rise in 2015, however, Context said, due to recent currency fluctuations and a slowdown in sales associated with the current Bing initiative.