Everyone,
FYI.
> Zona Research Reports Worldwide Thin-Client Market
> Grew Significantly in 1997
>
> Redwood City, California, March 16, 1998 * Zona Research, Inc.,
> reports the worldwide thin-client market increased 34.7% in 1997 to
> 347,917 units, with factory revenues reaching $350.15 million.
> According to the company's new report "The Thin-Client Market - 1998
> and Beyond," growth has stemmed from the movement of thin-client
> vendors toward providing access to Windows applications, as well as
> from the availability of Java-capable and browser-capable thin
> clients. The trend toward providing Windows application access to
> non-Windows thin clients appeared especially strong, with ICA-capable
> thin clients accounting for 48.4% of all thin-client shipments last
> year. Java-capable thin clients totaled 17% of the market in 1997, and
> browser-enabled thin clients represented 26.2% of the market.
> Zona defines thin clients as a set of products designed to access
> server-based network applications and information sources; they are
> capable of using the server for application installation,
> administration, support, and maintenance. Two movements helped propel
> the thin-client market to nearly 35% growth last year. First, the
> introduction of the "pure" Network Computer, positioned as a
> Java-specific device and exemplified by Sun's JavaStation. Second,
> Microsoft's and Intel's validations of the thin-client concept:
> Microsoft announced its support for ultra-thin Windows-based terminals
> (WBTs) and Net PCs, and Intel added its commitment to the Net PC as
> well as to its lean-client guidelines.
> According to Greg Blatnik, a vice president at Zona Research and
> director of Zona's Network Computing Technologies Service, "The
> presence of Microsoft and Intel in the thin-client market validates
> the product concept and, more importantly, gives customers the
> assurance that the largest application base and most popular desktop
> architecture will be integral components of this emerging product
> class.Examination of thin-client shipments in 1997 indicates that
> customers opted to purchase thin clients that could access Windows
> applications in far greater numbers than they purchased Java-capable
> thin clients, signifying the primacy of the Windows application
> environment.
> Zona's report notes that low-priced personal computers have exerted
> strong pressure on the thin-client market, forcing a precipitous drop
> in the average thin-client selling price. Nonetheless, the thin-client
> market is expected to expand dramatically. "The trend toward robust,
> reliable networks, network computing models, and powerful, inexpensive
> servers assures thin clients a prominent position in future computing
> architectures," stated Mr. Blatnik.
> Zona's report "The Thin-Client Market - 1998 and Beyond" is available
> with Zona's Network Computing Technologies Service. This service is
> designed to quantify and assess the market for hardware and software
> associated with network computing, including Windows-based terminals,
> Net PCs, Java-based Network Computers, Windows CE devices, and other
> generic thin clients. Data and analysis is based on extensive primary
> research of purchasers and users of network computing technologies.
> Zona Research, Inc. provides information and advice to the Internet
> industry. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of IntelliQuest
> Information Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: IQST). The company delivers
> qualitative and quantitative information on market trends via
> subscription services and reports, and offers a variety of
> confidential and custom consulting services. For more information on
> Zona Research or the company's products and services, please contact
> Steve Oldenbourg, Client Services Manager at Zona Research, 900
> Veterans Blvd., Suite 500, Redwood City, CA 94063, (ph) 650-568-5700,
> (fax) 650-306-2420, |
