Toshiba eyes 40 pct Q2 sales jump in U.S.

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Mon Jun 1, 2009 3:46pm EDT

* Toshiba expects 40 pct Q2 sales growth

* Plans to unveil ultra-thin laptop this year

* Will launch new netbook for U.S. market on June 2

By Clare Baldwin

SAN FRANCISCO, June 1 (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp (6104.T) expects second-quarter U.S. sales growth of 40 percent and plans to launch an ultra-thin laptop computer there in 2009, hoping to capture 15-20 percent of the domestic market.

The Japanese electronics maker will unveil on Tuesday its latest netbook -- or mini-laptop computer -- with an eye toward expanding its footprint in a U.S. personal computer arena hotly contested by the likes of Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N) and Dell Inc (DELL.O).

Toshiba is on track to surpass undisclosed internal targets for U.S. revenue and unit sales for the second quarter, said Jeff Barney, vice president and General Manager of Toshiba's digital products division.

Despite fierce competition, Barnet told Reuters that he expected second-quarter gross margins in the United States to be in-line with the previous quarter's.

"We're more than two-thirds through the quarter and that outlook looks to be fairly solid," he said in an interview on Monday.

Global PC manufacturers are slugging it out over netbooks, one of the fastest-growing segments of a depressed electronics market, with consumers developing a penchant for their lightweight functionality and economical cost.

Investors, however, worry that the much-cheaper portables will erode margins for the entire industry.

Many vendors are now eyeing ultra-thin laptops, or power-saving notebook computers that PC makers hope will bridge the divide between super-cheap netbooks and more traditional, powerful laptops.

(Reporting by Clare Baldwin; Editing by Edwin Chan, Richard Chang)

((eddie.chan@thomsonreuters.com; +1 213 955 6750; Reuters Messaging: eddie.chan.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: TOSHIBA/

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