Increased commoditization and price erosion in hardware markets are making it imperative for vendors to have targeted, concise product marketing and positioning statements. The movement to blade servers; high-capacity, low-cost disk systems; and IP-based data and communication networks is changing the infrastructure purchasing dynamics within Canadian organizations. IDC's Canadian Infrastructure Hardware service will help vendors and partners to position solutions to best align with customer demands and technology requirements. The service delivers in-depth analysis to sales and marketing teams, customers, and/or partners on a regular basis. Coverage includes segmentation of the server, storage, and networking equipment markets by technology, size of organization, vertical industry and geography. Valuable components of the service include on-demand access to analysts, competitive analysis exercises, and the opportunity for advanced strategic assessment engagements. The focus of IDC's Canadian Infrastructure Hardware service is to help vendors create more effective sales and marketing initiatives via improved targeting, better engage with end-user organizations and partners leading to greater market penetration, and improve profitability with improved hardware attach rates.

This service covers the following segments of the Canadian infrastructure hardware market:

• Servers
• Networking equipment
• Enterprise storage
• Security appliances

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

• Infrastructure hardware investment priorities
• Drivers, inhibitors, and triggers
• Go-to-market and infrastructure deployment strategies
• New technology adoption rates and market impact
• Vertical market analysis
• Market sizing, forecasts, and competitive analysis

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

1. Does hardware matter anymore?
2. What are the initiatives and expectations surrounding consolidation and virtualization strategies?
3. How is wireless networking changing infrastructure purchasing habits?
4. Do partners believe they can make money selling hardware?
5. Which vertical markets provide the most opportunity to sell servers and storage?
6. What effect will new technologies such as blades, IPv6, and iSCSI interconnects have on purchasing decisions?

IDC's Canadian Infrastructure Hardware service examines how server, storage, and networking equipment vendors and partners are positioning themselves to compete in the various hardware and solutions markets. This service reviews the strategies, market positioning, and future direction of several providers in the infrastructure hardware and related markets, including 3Com, Apple, Avaya, Brocade, Cisco, Dell, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM, Intel, McDATA, Microsoft, Network Appliance, Nortel, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, and VMware.

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 two separate in-depth studies identify key trends affecting the markets over the next five years. Clients can best use the information to more effectively segment the market and create even more effective marketing plans.

This in-depth study identifies key trends affecting the router, IP-based LAN switch, and WLAN markets over the next five years. Clients can best use the information to more effectively segment the market and create even more effective sales and marketing plans.

Emerging Technology Adoption

Leveraging IDC's demand-side survey data, studies analyzing emerging technologies focus on determining the stimulus behind the introduction and the impact on users and vendors.

Vendor and end-user case studies and profiles are conducted to better understand the positioning, partnering, and road maps of emerging infrastructure solution vendors. These documents outline business drivers and market impact.

Analyst Briefing

This market update and strategy review provides analysis, insights, and in-depth guidance on the infrastructure hardware ecosystem with customized advice.

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.