(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Mac PC Sales in Japan Reach 13 Pct. of Global Total
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January 20, 1999 (TOKYO) -- About 13 percent (123,000 units) of the 944,000
Macintosh PCs sold worldwide in the October-December quarter of 1998
were marketed by Apple Computer Inc.'s Japanese subsidiary.
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Eikou Harada, president of Apple Japan Inc., revealed the sales statistics
in Tokyo on Jan. 14, following Apple Computer's announcement of its
first-quarter results on Jan. 13.
"In 1998, Apple Japan built solid success in the consumer market with
the iMac, and in 1999, we'll expand our performance in the professional
market," Harada said. He indicated the likelihood of renewed initiatives
in business areas such as graphic design and desktop publishing, Apple's
traditional areas of strength.
In the United States, Apple Computer posted US$1.7 billion in revenues,
up 8 percent year-on-year, and US$152 million in net profit in the October-December
quarter of 1998. The results mean that the company has been profitable
for five consecutive quarters.
The company greatly improved its inventory numbers. The parent company
ended the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 (July-September 1998) with six
days of inventories. And it reduced its inventories to just two days
by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 1999.
"The reduction in inventory levels has contributed to a better balance
sheet and increased profits," Harada said.
Apple Japan aims to expand in the professional market based on machines
such as the new Power Macintosh G3 series, announced in early January
in both Japan and the United States, and the Mac OS X Server, which
was announced on Jan. 14.
Canon Sales Co., Otsuka Shokai Co., Ltd. and Too Corp. will assist in
marketing the Mac OS X Server in Japan.
On the topic of Apple Store, the direct sales outlet run on the Internet
by the parent company, Harada said that Apple Japan hopes to launch
a similar online sales center in the first half of 1999.
Related stories:
� New iMac Version to Sell for 158,000 Yen in Late January
� Year-End Prices in Japanese PC Shops Remain Level
� Apple Japan Converts Windows Users to iMac at Rapid Rate
(BizTech News Dept.)
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