India registers strong PC sales

The growing services sector has increased computer sales

Personal computer sales in India have risen by 36% since September, a information technology industry body has said.

The increase has been made possible by lower prices and increasing demand by the fast-growing services sector.

Prices of some basic models have now dropped to 10,000 rupees ($245), a report by the Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT) said.

Many of the sales are said to be taking place in small towns and cities.

Some 2.34 million personal computers (PC) have been sold in the six months up to September, up from 1.7 million a year earlier, MAIT said.

"With sound macroeconomic conditions and buoyant buying sentiment in the market, PC sales are expected to touch 4.7 million units in [this financial year]," it said.

There are only an estimated 15 million computers in use in India which has a population of more than one billion and industry analysts say computer manufacturers are keen to tap into what is seen as a growing market.