SMB Nation Blog

This morning, IDC released the results of a four-year study on the middleware and business process management market. The study, titled Worldwide Business Management and Middleware Vendor Shares, includes stats from 2008 to 2012, and overall, shows a stunted growth rate for this area.

Worldwide PC shipments totaled 76.3 million units in the first quarter of 2013 (1Q13), down -13.9% compared to the same quarter in 2012 and worse than the forecast decline of -7.7%, according to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. The extent of the year-on-year contraction marked the worst quarter since IDC began tracking the PC market quarterly in 1994. The results also marked the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year shipment declines.

New monthly PC tracking in top PC markets from IDC reveals slower-than-expected growth in China during the first quarter of 2013. Although the slowdown is partially due to the timing of Chinese New Year and other expected factors, new budget cuts from the government as well as anti-corruption measures are slowing purchases more than expected. March should recover somewhat in China, but not enough to offset the weak February results. 

Today marks Microsoft’s Play Fair Day 2013, a part of the company’s “Play It Safe” campaign that is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of using counterfeit software. The company released a research study as part of this year’s event, which sheds light on the current amount of counterfeit software in the world.

Despite intense industry efforts to overcome market inertia, 2012 nonetheless ended on a sour note with global PC shipment volume shrinking 3.7% on the year. With limited initial traction from Windows 8 in the holiday season, and continued pressure from tablets, IDC now expects 2013 PC shipments to decline by 1.3% in 2013, according to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

More news from the IDC as yesterday the analyst firm released the results of their Worldwide Quarterly WLAN Tracker for Q42012. This report, which tracks the total WLAN market size and vendor share, showed growth in both the consumer and enterprise sectors.

Today, IDC released the results of their Worldwide Hosted Private Cloud Services 2012-2016 Forecast: New Models for Delivering Infrastructure Services report, which was conducted in late 2012. According to the report, the Hosted Private Cloud sector is expected to see 50% compound annual growth, resulting in a $24 billion market by 2016.

IDC today released the results from its Worldwide Enterprise Videoconferencing and Telepresence Qview, which showed 4Q12 videoconferencing equipment revenue declined 8.6% year over year, but increased 14.9% quarter over quarter. Total worldwide enterprise videoconferencing and telepresence equipment revenue was $739.8 million in 4Q12, with revenue for the full year 2012 reaching $2.64 billion. The $2.64 billion total in 2012 was down 2.6% from full-year 2011 total revenue ($2.71 billion), according to IDC.

Tablets are taking over the IT world it seems, both on the consumer and B2B sides, and IDC has the data to prove it. According to the research firm, worldwide tablet shipments outpaced predictions reaching a record total of 52.5 million units worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2012 (4Q12), according to preliminary data from the firm’s Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker.

Yesterday, the IDC held a web conference titled “IDC – 2013 IDC - 2013 Chief Marketing Officer Predictions: Today's CMO Becomes Master of Data” which covered the company’s top 10 predictions for the CMO niche in 2013. The event was hosted by respected analysts, Kathleen Schaub and Rich Vancil.

The top 10 IDC predictions for the CMO role in 2013 are as follows:

IDC today adjusted their forecast numbers for the 2012 and 2013 Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker. The overall numbers for 2012 and 2013 have been raised in light of a highly competitive tablet environment.

Worldwide spending on public IT cloud services will be more than $40 billion in 2012 and is expected to approach $100 billion in 2016, according to a new forecast from research analyst firm IDC. Over the 2012–2016 forecast period, public IT cloud services will enjoy a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.4%, five times that of the IT industry overall, as companies accelerate their shift to the cloud services model for IT consumption.

International Data Corporation (IDC) today released its newest research report, Worldwide Black Book Query Tool, Version 2, 2012, which reveals that worldwide IT spending remains on course to grow 6% this year in constant currency, only slightly lower than last year's pace of 7% growth, in spite of continuing macroeconomic uncertainty.

Yesterday, the International Data Corporation (IDC) released the results of their Worldwide Quarterly Server Tracker report. This quarter’s findings continued the trend of decline in the global server market.

SYNNEX Corporation said today that it is now offering Xerox Corporation’s A3 advanced multifunction printers exclusively through PRINTSolv, its managed print services (MPS) group.

The worldwide PC market is expected to grow 5% year over year in 2012, in what is likely to be a challenging year. According to the (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, nearly 383 million PCs will ship into the market this year, a slight improvement over the tepid growth seen in 2011 as PCs continue to vie for growth amidst intensifying competition from alternative devices, global political uncertainty, and a still bumpy economic roadmap.

A newly released report series from IDC finds that SMB spending on security technology continues to show strong growth and will exceed $5.6 billion in 2015. While overall SMB IT spending is forecast to grow at a rate of 5-6% per year over the forecast period, SMB spending on security products and solutions is expected to grow almost twice as fast.

This week, Kaspersky Lab is holding its annual partner event in the Bahamas to discuss its current status, and where the company is headed. Unfortunately, I couldn’t snag a ticket down to the islands to enjoy the sunshine and sand while networking, but I can still report from afar what was discussed at the event.

Polycom said that it has decided to divest its enterprise wireless voice solutions business to an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. for gross proceeds of approximately $110 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments set forth in the agreement. The sale is expected to close within the third quarter of 2012, following specific requirements and conditions.

The worldwide PC market saw a slight increase in volume during the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same quarter in 2011, with shipments rising 2.3%, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

Microsoft said today it has reinvented its certification program to directly address technology’s evolution to the cloud.

Because organizations are increasingly turning to the cloud to improve productivity, cut costs and fuel business growth. By 2015 IT innovation produced by the cloud could create US$1.1 trillion a year in new business revenues according to a recent IDC study (1). As a result, top of mind for companies today is making sure they have the right skills and people in place to help them fully realize the benefits the cloud has to offer.

By Ian Moyse, Workbooks.com Sales Director, Eurocloud UK Board Member and Cloud Industry Forum Governance Board Member

2012 is rumored as the tipping point for cloud. For the last four to five years, we have heard that cloud (Internet-delivered solutions) is about to go mainstream, however, this year it is not the hype, but real user benefits that are driving adoption.

Samsung Electronics America today launched its PrintIQ managed print services program. This comprehensive program is designed to help Samsung’s dealer, reseller and OEM partners implement and develop strategic managed print solutions for customers that can be tailored to individual account needs. Samsung PrintIQ addresses many common office printing issues, lowers total operating costs and provides opportunities for enhanced revenue and profits.

According to IDC, Xerox continues to lead in global market share for managed print services (MPS) and basic print services. The research firm, per its Worldwide and U.S. Managed Print Services and Basic Print Services (BPS) 2012-2015 Forecast and Analysis report, projected that the industry will grow at an annual rate of 11.7 percent; it ranks Xerox in the top spot for both MPS and BPS offerings.

Here we go again! As I do each week, I am really enjoying bringing our readers a quick round-up of the blog coverage I didn’t manage to get to during the busy week prior.

Once again at SMB Nation, we have been busy covering the events circuit. I again made my way into New York City last Thursday to attend the HP/Axcient Cloud Roadshow at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers. The event kicked off with HP’s Meaghan Kelly discussing her company’s cloud strategy for partners, and Justin Moore, Axcient’s CEO did the same for his company as well.