WRAL Tech Wire

Lenovo profits soar 90% behind growing PC share, smartphone sales

"Somebody over there is doing something right," an analyst in Hong Kong tells Bloomberg news. For its full fiscal year ending March 31, Lenovo's profit rose 34 percent to $635 million on a 15 percent rise in sales to a record $34 billion.

Lenovo chart shows growth of non-PC revenues

Lenovo EMC joint venture begins selling servers

The world's No. 2 PC manufacturer and one of the world's top storage device makers closed on their joint venture in January. Now their products hit the street.

 Lenovo acknowledges layoffs in Morrisville as part of shift to 'PC Plus' strategy

"Some" job cuts are made in staff at the executive headquarters of the world's No. 2 PC maker as it continues to transition to a more diversified lineup of products, a corporate spokesperson says.

 A PC as designer furniture? Yes, thanks to designers and Lenovo's new Table PC

The wizards of technology smart at the world's No. 2 PC manufacturer came up with the idea of a touch-screen PC big enough for a family or design team to enjoy at the same time. Now, some designers show how a PC can be a piece of art, too.

The Table PC as centerpiece in a high-tech "Treehouse"

 IBM opens Linux center in China, says it will work with Red Hat

Big Blue is further expanding an already large presence in China with a new Linux-focused center in Beijing. And it says the world's top Linux developer, Red Hat, will be involved as well as Red Hat rival SUSE.

IBM's research center in China

 Aiming to sell 60M smartphones this year, Lenovo's next target is Africa

With a boost from Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, the world's No. 2 PC maker continues to ramp up its smartphone sales efforts with a push into Africa. Lenovo plans to more than double its phone deliveries this year.

Kobe Bryant pitches latest Lenovo phone

 Is IBM-Lenovo deal really dead? Insiders say no

An IBM facility in Research Triangle Park that even Big Blue calls a "Superlab" remains at the center of reports about a possible sale of at least a portion of IBM's server business to Lenovo. What's a SuperLab? What do they do? What are employees there hearing?

IBM touts its "X" server lineup

IBM-Lenovo server deal breaks down, sources say

The multi-billion deal for IBM's to sell parts of its server business to Lenovo is now in doubt over valuation concerns.

Despite rumors, Lenovo won't be buying NEC mobile unit

Although reports have circulated that the world's No. 2 PC maker might expand its venture into mobile phones by acquiring NEC's business, someone else is getting the group.

 Source: IBM-Lenovo server deal could be announced Friday

Neither company is talking, but no one should be surprised if Lenovo announces today that it is acquiring at least a portion of IBM's server businesses. A source close to the matter tells WRALTechWire that a deal is in the works, and tech publication CRN reports talks are "moving quickly."

Lenovo's website touts servers, services

Smartphones now tops in sales; Samsung surges as iPhone sales slow

As smartphone sales surpass those of regular mobile phones for the first time, Samsung continues to grow rapidly but Apple iPhone shipments are slowing, two research firms report.

Samsung Galaxy S4

 Panic at Big Blue? CEO reprimands workers, reassigns a top exec

By delivering what the Wall Street Journal describes as a "reprimand" to the entire company through an internal video and in reassigning top hardware executive Rod Adkins - who had been a contender for the CEO job - IBM CEO Ginny Rometty shows that Big Blue is in trouble. Can she right the ship?

Virginia Rometty

 Lenovo tells Hong Kong Stock Exchange it could be making an acquisition

Following media reports that Lenovo is in negotiations to buy at least a portion of IBM's server business, the world's No. 2 PC maker tells the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that a "potential acquisition" of some kind could be in the works.

 Sale of server business to Lenovo would fit IBM pattern

Big Blue Chief Financial Officer Mark Loughridge wouldn't discuss a report that IBM is negotiating to sell its x86 server business to Lenovo. But the tech giant has made clear it's intentions of continuing a strategy to dump hardware in favor of software and services. Analysts see IBM selling at least parts of the group.

IBM leads in server sales, says IDC

 Report: IBM could sell a server business unit to Lenovo for up to $6B

Lenovo and IBM won't comment about the report, but Computer Reseller News, a widely ready PC and tech industry publication, says IBM is in active negotiations to sell its x86 brand of servers to Lenovo in a deal that could cost up to $6 billion. IBM maintains an x86 facility at its RTP campus.

 Lenovo launches Horizon table PC

Lenovo's Horizon table PC has a supersized screen that allows up to four people to use it simultaneously to use interactive content and play games.

Lenovo Horizon Table PC

 Thumbs up for Lenovo at Fitch, thumbs down at Citi

Lenovo shares tumble in Hong Kong nearly 12 percent over last two days after global PC sales report. Citi cuts Lenovo shares to "sell," but ratings agency Fitch says it expect the world's No. 2 PC maker "to continue to perform well."

Fitch Ratings

 Finding gold for Lenovo in rush of bad PC sales news

Plunging PC sales data from research firms IDC and Gartner also contained encouraging news for Lenovo: It avoids the decline that pummeled competitors and also grows sales, market share in the toughest market - the U.S. Ratings firm Fitch likes data, issues statement boosting Lenovo.

Global PC sales plunge - except for Lenovo

 PC sales plunge; IDC says consumers 'shun Windows 8'

The last time worldwide PC shipments experienced a double- digit percentage decline was in the third quarter of 2001, when the market was roiled by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the impact of a decline in technology stocks

Screen shot of new Windows 8 start screen

 Lenovo's top exec to troops: 'Innovation is even more critical'

Yang Yuanqing, the chairman and CEO of Lenovo, delivers a rousing 'kickoff' speech to some 3,000 Lenovo Americas employees. While praising his 'team' time after time in a lengthy pep talk and strategic overview, the man his employees call 'YY' also warns that the world.s No. 2 PC maker faces many challenges as it evolves into a "PC-plus" company.

Lenovo's strategy