Post-PC strategy

Chen said that Lenovo is looking beyond the PC industry, which is experiencing a record decline.

Worldwide PC shipments fell 11 percent in the second quarter of this year, said the United States-based consultancy Gartner Inc.

Southeast Asia won't be immune to this trend, as thriving sales of tablets and other mobile devices will continue to erode the PC's territory.

"We are vigorously exploring future revenue boosters while the PC unit is still able to generate strong and steady income," according to Chen.

"PC plus" is how Lenovo executives describe the new era. The company was caught in the middle of the PC downturn just as it became the world's biggest maker of the product.

In spring 2012, Lenovo Chief Executive Officer Yang Yuanqing introduced the "PC plus" strategy to prepare the company for the mobile era.

Lenovo has released smartphones, tablets and other consumer electronics products as it aims to take part in the mobility market.

The company aims to sell 100 million smart terminals, including smartphones and tablets, by the end of 2013. Overseas markets could contribute nearly half of those sales.

During the first quarter, 100,000 Lenovo smartphones were sold in Southeast Asia, said the company.

But because of the unique market landscape in different countries, Lenovo must learn new strategies to tap into new markets.

In Singapore and other developed markets, contract phones could take more than a 90 percent share, because competition among telecommunications carriers is extremely intensive, according to Quek.

"Vietnam only has a second-generation network, so most of the customers are price-sensitive," said Chen.

Demand in Indonesia overall is similar to other developing nations, while in Jakarta, its capital and richest region, smartphone buyers are more interested in higher-end devices despite higher price tags, said Chen.

"When people think of ASEAN, they see 10 countries. But for Lenovo, which is determined to expand in each of the ten markets, we have to carefully examine demand and appreciate the uniqueness [of each market] to beat competitors," he added.

Executives at Lenovo are keen about their "attack and protect" strategy, part of which involves the company's smartphone, tablet and smart TV products.

The company aims to lure buyers who are willing to spend more than 3,000 yuan ($490) for a smartphone. In September, it released the VIBE X, an entry-level high-end product targeting young adults.

Contact the writer at gaoyuan@chinadaily.com.cn.