Quanta Computer Inc (廣達電腦), the world’s second-largest notebook computer contract maker by shipments, posted a 21.6 percent growth in profits from a year earlier to NT$5.3 billion (US$160 million) in the first quarter, thanks to strong notebook shipments.
The company, which is the sole manufacturer of the iPod Touch and a major supplier of Macbooks and iMacs, said it would devise more human-centric products in the future that ride on the emerging cloud-computing technology.
Sales in the first three months jumped 52.1 percent year-on-year to NT$252.6 billion. Earnings per share were NT$1.41, compared with NT$1.22 in the first quarter of last year.
Gross margins, however, dropped to 4.1 percent from 5.8 percent a year ago, a statement said.
“We expect that strong shipments in the second half of the year, which would result in larger economies of scale and lower costs, will alleviate the pressure on margins,” spokesman Elton Yang (楊俊烈) said at a press briefing yesterday.
Quanta reiterated that full-year notebook shipments would grow 40 percent to 50 million units this year.
Shipments of laptop computers in the second quarter are forecast to expand 15 percent to 20 percent from 11 million in the first quarter, he said.
Pressure from component shortages, such as graphics chips, computer processors and memory chips, should be eased in the current quarter, while Intel Corp’s launch of its new line of Calpella microprocessors would add to the sales momentum of notebooks as well, Yang said.
Meanwhile, Quanta Computer chairman Barry Lam (林百里) said cloud computing devices would be the focus of the company’s product pipeline for the next 10 years.
Quanta set up a cloud computing business group this year and is working with educational institutions to come up with innovative products that cater to what people want, instead of just putting the focus in technological innovation.
Such products may include healthcare devices or gadgets that would fit in the palm of your hand, Lam said.
Other notebook contract makers are also making the foray into cloud computing to keep up with the technological paradigm shift.
Smaller rival Wistron Corp (緯創) said on Friday that its board had approved a plan to spend US$10 million on iSGT Global (新設信息超級網格集團) and its Chinese subsidiary to develop a cloud computing business.
Quanta shares rose 2 percent to close at NT$61.50 yesterday in Taipei before the earnings were announced.
Compal Electronics Inc (仁寶電腦), which shipped more notebooks than Quanta last year, will announce its earnings and quarterly outlook tomorrow.
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