IDC's Systems and Storage Channels and Alliances service offers the insight and counsel of experienced analysts to help vendors and resellers design and implement effective channel strategies. This service is an invaluable tool for channel specialists developing and fine-tuning their programs and strategies and trying to keep the pulse of the changing channel landscape. Benefits include detailed forecasts of key channel segments, analysis of evolving reseller business models, and quick answers to important questions.

This service covers the following segments of the systems and storage channels market:

• Server and storage channels
• Alliance partners

Throughout the year, this service will address the following topics:

• Best-practice channel programs: servers, workstations, and storage
• Comparison of reseller profile and vendor target market requirements
• Current vendor profiles
• Changing role of distribution
• Channel conflict management
• Channel management strategies
• Impact of standardization on the channel
• Internet and intranet impact on the channel
• Reassessment of existing channel structures
• Successful implementation strategies for storage providers
• Emerging channels
• Partners' view on services opportunities

Our research addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. What are the new and emerging channels, and for which businesses are they appropriate?
2. Can resellers create and capture new business with services?
3. Which channel is best for which product?
4. What are the channel strategies of the leading server, workstation, and storage vendors?
5. How do partners view solutions and their deployment? What role can partners play in this area?

IDC's Systems and Storage Channels and Alliances service examines how the various channels and alliances are positioning themselves within the IT distribution ecosystem. This service reviews the strategies, market positioning, and future direction of the suppliers, their channels (i.e., direct, indirect, influence, two-tier, and agent), and their alliances. Vendors include EMC, HP, IBM, Silicon Graphics, StorageTek, and Sun Microsystems.

Throughout the year, this service will offer insight into the latest trends impacting the market. Potential studies include:

This study provides a five-year forecast of the server market, segmented by the United States and worldwide, with five distinct channel splits for the United States. All data is divided by operating system, price band, unit, and revenue.

These quarterly studies feature different channel partners and profiles of the companies' current and future business plans.

This study provides a five-year forecast of the storage market, segmented by worldwide with two channel splits. All data is divided by operating system, price band, unit, and revenue.

IDC offers a complete market intelligence solution customized to meet your business requirements. The array of products and services available to you includes:

• The opportunity to have your specific questions answered through personal interaction with industry experts who cover the topics and markets in your service
• Around-the-clock access to our market intelligence on idc.com, IDC's personalized Web experience
• A view of the market's future with 12 months of continuous intelligence about its direction and the reasons behind it, along with actionable advice for taking advantage of existing and emerging opportunities
• Special client discount pricing on purchases of research from other services
• Complimentary admission to IDC's annual Directions conference, where you'll hear our latest forecasts and network with IDC analysts and other industry professionals
• Complimentary invitations to monthly executive telebriefings, interactive forums designed to provide you with insights about research and strategies directly from IDC analysts

To find out how our flexible packaging options can meet your specific business needs, please contact your IDC sales executive.

As a privately held company, IDC believes that our customers are our primary constituency. A large percentage of every revenue dollar is reinvested back into our products, including more analysts, more geographic coverage, and extensive primary research.

Our steady growth over the past 10 years reflects our commitment to investing in our customers.