Compaq Computer Corp’s plan to revive its German unit this year is to introduce a line of low-priced personal computers and focus on sales to small and mid-sized businesses. The new series of machines due in the next few months will sell for between $1,365 and $1,780, Kurt Dobitsch, managing director of Compaq Computer GmbH, announced adding that this would provide a new market segment for Compaq because Germany has 2 million small businesses and 21,000 mid-sized companies that have not installed computers as quickly as large corporations. Compaq is looking to form many new partnerships with small consultants who put together computer systems for accountants, doctors, realtors and other small businesses. Last year, Compaq’s lost two points of overall market share in Germany last year in the face of sharp price competition, ending with 7.8% in 1996 and on Dataquest Inc figures shipped just over 300,000 personal computers; its share of home computer sales fell to 3.5%, from 7.5% in 1995. In sales to businesses, its share slipped to 12.9% from 13.3%; and in portable personal computers, its share dropped to 14.7% from 16%. Its only increase came in the server segment, where its share rose to 25.6% from 24.7%.
