Face the world 'computer giants'

Alliance to focus power - perhaps it is the best solution of Vietnamese computer companies to get a place of their own when foreign computer giants land in Vietnam market. However, to do this, Vietnamese computer companies have to face the difficulties arising from their internal .

Changing the nature of the coalition : Vietnam joins WTO, foreign computer giants will land in Vietnam market and domestic enterprises will face a great pressure that individual businesses hardly resilient. The alliance is, of course, a plan that must be taken into account to create the "Tiger of the enemy" in the competition of the computer market .

Can not surrender . : "Vietnam ' s computer alliances so far are loosely linked, do not divide responsibilities clearly so they fall into the" common father nobody cries "situation. very cavalry two words "alliance" . "

Alliance "war"

When discussing "hiccups" in the alliance of Vietnamese computer companies, a director of a computer company in Ho Chi Minh City said playfully: "The NATO Alliance also has disagreements among members. , computer alliances (LMMT) VN, if not sustainable, are understandable . ".

Starting for LMMT trend in Vietnam is LMMT Thanh Giong, launched in Hanoi in June, 2004, strongly promoted with the slogan "1 million cheap computers for rural youth".

* Thanh Giong Computer Alliance launched in Hanoi in June 2004.

* G6 Alliance : Consisting of 6 small companies in Hanoi including Tran Anh, Mai Hoang, Phuc Anh, Vinh Trinh, Hanoi Computer and Ben Computer, was born in August 2004.

* The "Certified by Intel" laptop alliance was released on October 10, 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City, including 14 Vietnamese computer companies, to standardize 7 computer components, lower the price of laptops in the Vietnamese market.

* V-Open Alliance : Members are many computer units across the country. Born in May 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City. After that, it was restructured into joint-stock company Lien Viet Thanh launched in Ho Chi Minh City on September 9, 2007 with 9 members.

Intel VN - "host" of the cause of St. Giong's LM - invited Microsoft, HP, LG, Samsung, Seagate . to join the LM to provide components and equipment at preferential prices, facilitating the two Intel's "sweetie" was then FPT-Elead and CMS assembled low-cost computers to market.

The basic CMS T300 and Elead DC 1000S models are launched at the price of only VND 3,950,000 / unit, which is a breakthrough in price. But putting the resources to "pump" for FPT-Elead and CMS has been questioned by public opinion is a "special privilege", like any stone thrown into the lake causing waves.

Smaller companies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City also have their own "follow-up" computer programs that are advertised and marketed by the giants.

On August 6, 2004, six small and unknown companies in Hanoi announced the formation of the G6 LM, and marketed cheaper and cheaper computers of the Saint Giong alliance, "stunned" the giants in the Saint Giong alliance.

However, in order to do this, G6 has to pay a loss of 4 USD per machine. But in return, G6 has launched a home warranty service, earning 10USD each. The battle between the Saint Giong alliance and G6 lasted for several months. And, G6 has spectacularly captured part of the market.

And self-weakening

LMMT Saint Giong actually has only two computer brands CMS and FPT-Elead, both are Vietnamese companies. But two lobsters cannot live in an alliance. The launch of competitive techniques, setting out different configurations and price differences gradually leads to a rift between the two brands.

G6 more "breaker" makes the competitive advantage of Thanh Giong coalition fade away. This alliance gradually went to disintegrate. G6 alliance also does not exist longer, self-deprecating, no goal to build a long-term brand, so it also gradually collapses. In general, both alliances are formed in a "eating out" purpose, sticking to each other for the immediate benefit and not for long-term goals.

If only comparing in the "duel" between the two Giong and G6 alliances, it can be seen that the demise of G6 is reasonable after the historical mission has been completed to prove that small businesses can also resist giants, making the market more competitive, bringing more benefits to consumers.

However, if the problem of Vietnamese computer brand is different - foreign computer brand, then the "fight" is to undermine itself because of the internal division of Vietnamese enterprises.

Compete with foreign goods

In May 2006, Intel announced a laptop program ("Certified by Intel") (Verify by Intel - VBI) in Vietnam, bringing together 14 Vietnamese computer manufacturers and assemblers.

Other than the Saint Giong alliance, this new alliance is only a Vietnamese company, and also aims to provide laptops with cheaper prices from 30% -50%. Low price because the plan will standardize 7 types of components and order large quantities. No public announcement but everyone knows that VBI alliance to compete with foreign laptop brands of IBM, HP, Acer, Toshiba etc .

Foreign giants know this. On the occasion when VBI alliance is struggling to focus enough on the number of components to import at preferential prices, HP and Acer have quickly launched low-cost laptops, creating breakthroughs and dominating the market.

Until now, the only member of VBI was CMS who persevered to follow his path, selling only 2,000 laptops in the last 6 months of 2006, mainly models with the price of under VND 10 million. But foreign giants still account for more than 90% market share of laptops in Vietnam.

After Intel announced the VBI alliance, also in May 2006, there was a second V-Open coalition alliance, including Vietnamese units of many provinces and cities. But the alliance died prematurely because the organization was weak and the link was too loose.

Two coalition alliance was born, up to this point after more than 8 months but did not create any imprint, so that the foreign giants "the first subordinate" took the upper hand in the market. In particular, Acer giants accounted for more than 60% market share of cheap laptops.

Facing this situation, the V-Open has restructured to become a "new wine bottle" alliance launched on January 9, 2007, as a new legal entity called Lien Viet Thanh technology joint stock company. The product is Viet V-Open brand laptop.

Tham Hong Thuy