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PC producers smile again. According to Gartner, it has sold nearly 306 million computers worldwide in 2009, against 302.2 million units in 2008. An increase of 5.2% in one year. In November, the firm analysts foresaw growth of 2.8% this year. This recovery was mainly driven by a surge in sales of 22.1% over the fourth quarter alone. While the basis of comparison is largely favorable. The global economy plunged into crisis a year earlier, with only 78 million PCs sold in the fourth quarter of 2008 (+1.1% over the same period in 2007).

Today, all regions of the world leave more beautiful. "The United States and Asia-Pacific had already been positive indicators in the third quarter, but fourth quarter results give more evidence of a global recovery," said Gartner analyst Mikako Kitagawa.For the first time in three quarters, in fact, the regions Europe, Middle East and Africa were up in the fourth quarter.

Redistribution of cards

A recovery has been particularly successful in producing Taiwanese Acer. The latter took the opportunity to eclipse Dell's second largest computer manufacturers in 2009, after flying his way to his American rival in the third and fourth quarters. Over the year, Acer has sold 39.897 million in total PC, a jump of 29.4% which enabled him to capture a market share of 13%. Dell, meanwhile, reported sales of 37.355 million computers over the year, down 9.1%. Its market share fell to 12, 2%, against 14.1% a year earlier.

The battle for second place does not seem to affect Hewlett-Packard, anyway. The American manufacturer is sticking to its first place. And by far.The world has sold 58.947 million computers in 2009, registering an increase of 11.3% comfortable compared to 2008. HP wins a market share of 19.3% (against 18.2% last year).

Sales from consumer PCs and cheaper

According to analyst Gartner, HP, Acer and Toshiba, the fifth largest producer with 15.495 million computers sold in 2009, received a "strong consumer demand." The business market, it remains uncertain. This is not the business of Dell, which has mainly specialized in selling office equipment. Finally, Mikako Kitagawa highlights the success of the cheapest PC. To demonstrate the success netbooks, often sold at less than 300 euros, continues unabated.Finally, the launch of the new operating system Windows 7 to fall was a great marketing coup for the holidays.

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Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom will now share the telephony market with a fourth mobile operator. Free, a subsidiary of Iliad, has won the fourth license enforced through Arcep cons 240 million euros. Free file has been evaluated using several criteria, the most important being the "coherence and credibility of the project" and the "coverage territory", according to the release of the Regulatory Authority.In exchange, the news was very well received as evidenced by the share price Iliad, the parent of Freer, earning 3.38% to 83.49 euros.

"The arrival of this new actor should have a positive effect on the dynamic market of mobile telephony and, more generally, should be a positive factor for the development of electronic communications services," said the Authority has long criticized the lack of competition in mobile telephony.

Free operator had made known in 2003 by "breaking" the prices of holidays, being the first in France to offer a triple play (phone / internet / TV) for less than 30 euros, forcing competition to align its rates. A floor rate which was recently taken down by Numericable, then taken to account by the con own subsidiary of Iliad, Alice.

Free "undertake (…) to open its mobile network commercially within two years after the issuance of the permit and to cover the next eight years, at least 90% of the population by its 3G network." In other words, the subsidiary of Iliad should offer its new phone packages as early as January 2010, the official date of award of the license, and no later than early 2012.