IDC's European Small and Medium Business Markets service analyzes the new business models that have been driven by Internet technologies and looks at the acquisition and use of key IT products, services, and solutions, as well as emerging technologies such as wireless. SMB technology investments are analyzed by 16 verticals in 16 Western European countries and four company sizes. Our analysts provide insight into when and where the most active small and medium business (SMB) segments are likely to generate IT and telecoms business growth.

This service covers the following segments:

• Enterprise applications
• New technologies
• Connectivity solutions
• Hardware, software, and services
• Software as a service

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

• The role of SMBs in the European economy
• The European SMB IT opportunity
• Levels of IT sophistication among SMBs
• IT spending forecast by company size
• Segmentation of the SMB market based on IT, Internet, and solution adoption patterns
• SMB attitudes towards voice and data convergence
• Segmentation of the SMB market based on mobility solutions
• SMB attitudes toward new technologies
• SMB technology purchase processes
• Vertical offerings for SMBs
• IT supplier push to reach SMBs

This service addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. How do SMB technology opportunities vary by country and company size?
2. What are the key Internet technologies and applications used by European SMBs and what applications will change the way SMBs do business over the next 12 months?
3. What are the most viable strategies for IT and telecoms vendors targeting SMBs in Europe?
4. How interested are SMBs in new technologies such as wireless?
5. What drives SMB technology investment and which verticals are the most active IT investors?

IDC's European Small and Medium Business Markets service examines how ICT providers are positioning themselves to compete in the European SMB market. This service reviews strategies, market positioning, and future direction of several providers in the European SMB market, including:

3Com, Apple, BT, Capgemini, Cisco, Dell, Deutsche Telekom, EDS, France Telecom, Fujitsu Siemens, HP, IBM, ICI, Ingram Micro, Microsoft, NCR, Novell, Oracle, SAP, Telecom Italia, Telefónica de España, and Unisys.

This service focuses on the following core research. In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct additional research on specific topics, or emerging market segments, via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.

This study will provide IT spending estimates and forecasts by company size, vertical market, and country.

This study will provide an analysis of IT vendor strategies to target the SMB market in Western Europe.

This study focuses on familiarity and adoption of infrastructure technologies in the Western European SMB market. Focus is on sever and storage consolidation, system virtualization, SAN, and NAS. Survey results for the SMB market are presented by company-size class (20-49, 50-99, 100-249, and 250-499), and for the top 5 Western European countries (France, Germany, Italy, the U.K., and Spain).

Western European SMB Market Structure and Performance Indicators

This study will analyze the structure of the SMB market, with special focus on the number of companies, employment, and turnover.

This study will provide an analysis of ISV strategies to target the SMB market in Western Europe.

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
• Complimentary/special admission price 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 account manager.

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-plus years reflects our commitment to investing in our customers.