Lenovo says in initial talks on smartphone venture

ENTERING THE FRAY: Lenovo Group Ltd, now the second largest smartphone maker in its home market in China, said it was in preliminary talks with an unidentified party on a potential smartphone business joint venture. - Reuters

HONG KONG: China's Lenovo Group Ltd, the world's No 2 PC maker by shipments, said on Tuesday it was in preliminary talks with an unidentified party on a potential smartphone business joint venture. It gave no further details.

Japanese media have reported that Lenovo, just shy of overtaking Hewlett-Packard Co as the top global PC maker, would set up a joint venture with Japan's NEC Corp to focus on smartphone manufacturing and distribution.