Hubris & Quist is definitely doing a poor job with ODIS: instead of downgrading the stock they'd better promote it to their high-net-worth customers who've been wiped out by the last Summer crash... ODIS should allow them to recoup in the next 6 months.
Anyway, the fundamentals are on our side: good times ahead for ODIS' embedded ObjectStore.....
Tuesday October 20, 7:59 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: International Data Corporation
IDC Finds Information Appliance Market Poised for Mass Market Acceptance
New Research Forecasts a 76% Annual Growth Rate From 1998-2002; NetTVs, Gaming Devices, and Smart Handhelds Gain Momentum
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- International Data Corporation, the world's leading provider of IT market research, analysis and consulting, predicts the global market for information appliances is on the verge of explosive growth --climbing from 3 million units in 1997 and nearly 6 million in 1998 to an overwhelming 55.7 million in 2002, which represents a 76 percent annual growth rate from 1998-2002. These findings are revealed in two new studies forecasting the worldwide information marketplace and netTV marketplace from 1997 through 2002.
In late 1998, the information appliance industry has begun to coalesce around key platforms and specific solution partnership initiatives. ''The gaming industry is moving rapidly and smart handheld devices (SHDs) are hot, but netTV is receiving the greatest attention in terms of a complete solution, reviving interactive television,'' said Sean Kaldor, vice president of IDC's Consumer Devices research service. ''On the down side, the consumer NC client is derailed primarily due to low-cost PCs, and the screenphone market appears troubled resulting from recent vendor inactivity and financial woes.''
IDC's research indicates a continuing shake-out of information appliance vendors. The winning vendors will be existing leaders in the base platform category. For example, many screenphone initiatives have been put on hold while market leaders Northern Telecom and CIDCO already have a strong play in the telephone marketplace. Also, gaming vendors Sony, Nintendo, and Sega own the Internet gaming console opportunity, leaving only a little room for vendors like Tiger Electronics to make a move.
NetTVs, Gaming Devices, and Smart Handheld Devices
The lion's share of the information appliance momentum has moved toward netTV, gaming devices, and smart handhelds, according to IDC. Internet smart handheld devices show the greatest promise for deployment on an absolute unit shipment basis. However, these products primarily lie in the corporate domain, with many purchased directly from corporate funds. As a result, SHDs drop out of the top ranking and closer to the bottom of unit shipments for consumer-used items.
Internet gaming devices also hold great promise with the growth accelerating from 848,000 units in 1998 to almost 15 million in 2002. While this seems like a radical leap, IDC believes the gaming console market will become increasingly connected, although the total size impact is less substantial.
NetTVs represent a hot bed of innovation. Cable vendors have scheduled deployments numbering in the millions for 1999 alone, according to a new IDC review and forecast of the worldwide netTV marketplace. The netTV category quickly becomes the next largest category of information appliances generating 1.4 million units in 1998, catapulting up to 4.3 million in 1999, and settling at over 11 million units at the turn of the millennium.
IDC's two new research studies, IDC's Forecast of the Worldwide Information Appliance Marketplace, 1997-2002 (IDC #B17437) and Review and Forecast of the Worldwide NetTV Marketplace, 1997-2002, (IDC #B17316) are available for purchase by contacting Janis Dempsey at 508-935-4145 or at jdempsey@idc.com. For additional information about IDC's Consumer Devices program, contact Beth Freedman at 508-935-4764 or at bfreedman@idc.com.
About IDC
International Data Corporation is the information technology industry's most comprehensive resource on worldwide IT markets, trends, products, vendors, and geographies. IDC provides data, analysis and advisory services to the world's leading IT suppliers as well as IS professionals in finance, insurance, entertainment, advertising, consumer goods and publishing. IDC's research and opinions are based on the results of more than 300,000 end-user surveys, in-depth competitive analysis, broad technology coverage, and strategic analysis. IDC is committed to providing global research with local content through its 500 analysts in more than 40 countries worldwide. Additional information on IDC can be found on its Web site at idc.com.
IDC is a division of International Data Group, the world's leading IT media, research, and exposition company.
All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: International Data Corporation |
