The mobile revolution has taken a toll on the traditional PC industry in a way that few predicted. While PCs aren’t going away overnight, sales have certainly slowed down – a trend that has some considering drastic measures to remain relevant.
A new report from Japanese media outlet Nikkei claims Fujitsu, Toshiba and Sony spinoff Vaio are contemplating a possible merger of PC divisions. Combined, they’d create a “top player” with control of more than 30 percent of the Japanese market. Lenovo, the region’s current leader, controls 26.3 percent of the market.
The publication says each company would invest around 30 percent into the venture. Vaio would likely be the “surviving” company with assets from the other two being absorbed by the combined entity.
Each company brings something unique and valuable to the table. Toshiba, responsible for creating and popularizing the notebook computer, has its strength in the North American market with Europe being Fujitsu’s stronghold. Vaio, meanwhile, has strong brand recognition thanks to its association with Sony.
How big of an impact the combined company would have on the global market remains to be seen. In 2014, IDC notes that the trio had a combined market share of just six percent. Dell, HP and Lenovo, meanwhile, accounted for nearly half of the 308 million PCs that shipped last year.
The trio will soon begin negotiating, we’re told, with plans to finalize an agreement as early as this month. That timeline would allow them to launch the new company by April of 2016.
