IDC's Hardcopy Peripherals: User and Channel Data service provides analysis of users' changing hardcopy usage and hardcopy peripheral distribution channel strategies. A core element of the service is primary research analysis that offers insight into user adoption rates, user attitudes, product requirements, channel preferences, and purchase process. Another set of deliverables revolves around dealer meeting reviews and go-to-market strategies for all of the major hardcopy vendors. In addition, a user segmentation of the U.S. printer and multifunction peripheral (MFP) markets is provided so that clients can gauge hardcopy demand in homes, various business sizes, and government/education opportunities. In conjunction with our other hardcopy services, this service provides vendors with the strategic and tactical information necessary to develop, market, and position hardcopy products. This service complements IDC's Hardcopy Peripherals: Overview, Hardcopy Peripherals: Software and Services, and Hardcopy Peripherals: Production and Large Format Markets.

This service covers the following segments of the U.S. hardcopy peripherals market:

• Printers, MFPs, and copiers
• User segments
• User response to hardcopy products and services offerings

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

• Printer and MFP shipments by user segment
• Demand-side research for hardcopy peripherals
• Vendor go-to-market strategies

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

1. Into which user environments are printers and MFPs selling?
2. What go-to-market strategies are major vendors using to sell hardcopy peripherals?
3. What are the usage trends and decision-maker attitudes regarding all types of hardcopy peripherals?
4. What is the growth potential for printers and MFPs in U.S. homes, businesses, and government/education?

IDC's Hardcopy Peripherals: User and Channel Data service examines user and channel dynamics in the hardcopy peripherals market via both primary and secondary research. Examples of companies tracked include:

Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, HP, IKON, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Kyocera Mita, Lexmark, Océ Imagistics, Oki, Panasonic, Ricoh, Riso Kagaku, Samsung, Sharp, TallyGenicom, Toshiba, and Xerox.

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.

These studies are conducted each year to uncover user requirements and trends for all hardcopy peripherals. They reveal critical information for clients to use in product planning and include analysis of user computing environments, page volume trends, hardcopy peripheral usage patterns, channel preferences, user satisfaction, functionality (e.g., color, wireless, and scanning), and buyers' decision-making processes.

These profiles highlight vendors' go-to-market strategies in the hardcopy industry. Coverage includes financial analysis, channel structure, target markets and how the vendor will reach them, latest product activity, and strategies implemented for future success. Several of these profiles are published annually.

IDC attends several hardcopy vendors' dealer meeting events every year. These analyses detail the vendors' strategies for success over the next 12-18 months. Coverage includes past year performance, new product activity, marketing/sales strategies, and overall vendor assessment.

This research quantifies and forecasts the printer and MFP market opportunities by user segmentation (e.g., home, business by size, and government/education).

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