Research Triangle Park, N.C. and Richfield, Minn., April 11, 2006 — Lenovo and Best Buy today announced that they will join forces to provide small and medium business customers with access to purchase ThinkPad notebooks, ThinkCentre desktops and the newly announced Lenovo-branded 3000 PCs.
Small business customers nationwide now will have the opportunity to acquire Lenovo technology online, by phone and at more than 135 “Best Buy For Business” locations. Customers can rely on the expertise of Lenovo-trained sales professionals to help identify and apply the right technology solutions for their unique business needs. Best Buy For Business provides businesses with expanded technology offerings, personal assistance from business professionals and specialized installation services. “Best Buy For Business is the definitive source for small businesses to meet their technology needs,” said Tom Healy, executive vice president, Best Buy. “Best Buy For Business and Lenovo share a focus on delivering high customer satisfaction, and world-class products and service. With the help of Lenovo-trained professionals, Best Buy For Business customers will be able to choose the PC that is right for them and their business.”
“With a new product line designed specifically for small business customers, working with Best Buy For Business will help us reach an increasing number of users who are turning to in-store experts for their small business IT needs,” said Scott Smith, president, Lenovo Americas. “In addition to creating more opportunities to purchase Lenovo notebooks and desktops, small business customers will gain personalized and knowledgeable service that will help them choose the right PCs at the right price.”
IDC reports that by 2007, U.S. PC shipments to small businesses (1-99 employees) are expected to grow by two million units(1). Through Best Buy For Business, customers can select from Lenovo’s Think-branded portfolio as well as the Lenovo-branded PCs just introduced worldwide. The Lenovo 3000 product line, featuring several new desktop and notebook models, offers a unique suite of easy-to-use Lenovo Care productivity tools that help make owning and operating a PC a worry-free experience for small businesses. Lenovo 3000 models offered through Best Buy include the J100 and J105 desktops and the C100 and N100 notebooks.
In addition, the entire ThinkPad notebook and ThinkCentre desktop product lines will be available through Best Buy For Business, including offerings that are tailored to the needs of very small, small and medium business customers.
Lenovo PC products are available through Best Buy For Business stores nationwide, via phone at 1-800-373-3050 and on the Web at www.bestbuyforbusiness.com/lenovo .
About Lenovo Group Ltd. Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building the world’s most innovative personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com .
About Best Buy Co., Inc. Best Buy Co., Inc. is an innovative Fortune 100 growth company that continually strives to create superior customer experiences. Through more than 930 retail stores across the United States and in Canada, our employees connect customers with technology and entertainment products and services that make life easier and more fun. We sell consumer electronics, home-office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services. A Minneapolis-based company, our operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.com) and Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com). We support our communities through employee volunteerism and grants from The Best Buy Children’s Foundation.
Notes 1. IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, March 2005