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On Jan. 8, Lenovo announced a new agreement with Best Buy to sell select ThinkPads and notebooks in store to small business customers.
According to the two companies, the ThinkPad T60 widescreen and Lenovo 3000 N100 systems will be available for purchase at more than 300 “Best Buy For Business” retail outlets starting this month.
The deal—which is a continuation of an agreement the two companies signed in April 2006—underscores Lenovos increased push in recent years to move its products to retail shelves.
While IBM, prior to selling off its computer unit to Lenovo in 2005, made the strategic decision not to deal in the consumer retail space, Chinas largest computer maker, Lenovo, has moved in the opposite direction.
With much more experience in that segment, Lenovo executives have previously stated that part of their new strategy would be to create a larger consumer business to offer ThinkPad, ThinkCentre, and Lenovo 3000 PCs to small businesses.
Under the previous agreement between Best Buy and Lenovo, customers could order Lenovo PCs through a Best Buy For Business telesales team or the retail chains Web site, but not purchase or test them in the stores.