ECS gets first dibs to sell Lenovo smartphones in Malaysia

• Lenovo ventured into smartphone market only in 2011, but was No 2 maker in China in 2012
• ECS will initially distribute two models with immediate effect – the Lenovo S890 and P770

MALAYSIAN distributor ECS ICT Berhad has signed a smartphone distribution agreement with Lenovo Technology Sdn Bhd, the local subsidiary of the world's second-largest personal computer maker.
 
Through its wholly-owned subsidiary ECS Astar Sdn Bhd, ECS is now the first local distributor to bring in Lenovo’s range smartphones into the Malaysian market, the company said in a statement.
 
ECS said it already distributes Lenovo’s entire range of notebooks and desktop PCs through its nationwide network.
 
“In the short time that it has been involved in the smartphone business, Lenovo is already a leading player in the China market and is now keen on translating its success on the international stage,” said ECS managing director Foo Sen Chin (pic).
 
“This agreement not only further extends our winning relationship with Lenovo, but, more importantly, enables us to play a key role in expanding the reach of its newest product lines here” he added.
 
Although the PC maker only ventured into the smartphone market in 2011, Lenovo quickly rose through the ranks to become the second-largest smartphone maker in China, capturing 13.2% market share in 2012, ECS said in its statement.
 
Following its success in the largest smartphone market in the world, Lenovo has brought its smartphones to India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia and Vietnam.
 
While the agreement between ECS Astar and Lenovo Technology encompasses the full range of Lenovo smartphones, ECS will initially distribute two models with immediate effect – the Lenovo S890 and P770, which are targeted at different market segments.
 
The S890 is designed for entertainment, supporting games and multimedia features; while the P770 is for professionals on the go, equipped with 1.2GHz dual core processor, 16-hour talk-time and 300-hour standby mode. Both phones come equipped with Android 4.1 Jellybean operating system.
 
According to IDC, the Malaysian smartphone market is expected to reach US$2.1 billion in 2013, up 30.3% from US$1.3 billion last year, ECS said. By 2016, the market research firm expects the local market to be worth around US$3 billion.
 
Given the size and potential of this market, Foo was upbeat on the entry of the new smartphone brand.
 
 
For more technology news and the latest updates, follow @dnewsasia on Twitter or Like us on Facebook.