Computer giant IBM has put its personal computing business up for sale in a deal that could be worth as much as $2 billion, the New York Timesreported this morning.
IBM, now the number three PC maker behind Dell and Hewlett-Packard Co., is likely to include all of its desktop, laptop and notebook computers in the sale, which could earn it between $1 billion and $2 billion, sources told the newspaper.
Lenovo Group, China's top PC maker, and at least one other company are said to be in talks with IBM , the Timesreported.
There have been media reports that Lenovo, which controls more than a quarter of China's PC market, was poised to set up a joint venture with IBM .
Gartner, a leading research firm, forecast earlier this week that three of the top 10 personal computer makers would exit the market by 2007, citing slower growth rates and narrower profit margins. It did not name any companies.
IBM could not be reached for comment.
