Channel onlookers are unsurprised to learn that vendor Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC) may face an uncertain future.

Stories suggesting that Siemens might be having second thoughts about the joint venture appeared earlier this month and reports surfaced that the two companies were in talks to decide the way forward.

If Siemens did walk away, Fujitsu would have first refusal to buy it out. If no agreement could be reached, it would be left looking for another partner or a company to buy the entire business.

The high cost of manufacturing in western Europe is claimed to be one of Siemens’ main bugbears. The vendor has been outstripped recently by Asian rivals Acer, Toshiba and Lenovo. Lenovo is tipped to be a prime contender if FSC begins looking for potential buyers.

Alastair Edwards, senior analyst at Canalys, said: “European vendors are suffering from not riding the wave of the weak dollar. If FSC did come up for sale, I would not be surprised to see Lenovo making a bid.”

VAR Bear IT sells FSC machines, but managing director Adam Harris was unfazed. “We would just move on to another manufacturer. From our perspective the important thing is that the kit is decent,” he said.

Kieran O’Connor, external sales manager for reseller ACS Office Solutions, added: “It demonstrates the pressure in the market. It appears to be a two-horse race; Dell and HP are squeezing the price so much.”