Pass last summer days. That is about to come autumn, and with it - and the long-awaited revitalization of the entire global IT-business. But then, perhaps, is to warn against excessive optimism. Analysts company Gartner noted that the weakening global economy soon may force consumers to buy fewer electronics. In the coming months, expect widespread decline in sales of computer equipment that quickly affects the producer of microchips. Until this year, sales of PCs and mobile phones stood at a high level thanks to emerging markets (China, India, Russia, South America) that the fuel industry. But Gartner believes that soon, and in these countries will be felt the impact of the global economic crisis.In March this year, experts Gartner forecast changed the overall production of chips, taking into account the decline in prices for memory and the deterioration of the global economy. Thus, if a previously expected increase in annual profits in the IT-industry stood at 6.2%, whereas now it has fallen to 3.4% ($ 278.4 billion). According to forecasts Gartner, improvements in the industry should not wait before the second half of next year.
Smart passion
One of the most remarkable events of this summer was the revitalization of the two largest producers of processors - AMD and Intel. Both companies sought to consolidate its position in the market. However, a number of failures by the leadership of AMD, led to a weakening market position of the manufacturer. One of those mistakes has been the acquisition of ATI, eventually turning to AMD large losses. Nevertheless, the company does not intend to give up: Now AMD is making serious efforts in trying to remain competitive. In July the company was headed by Dirk Meyer, who succeeded as general director Hector Ruiz.
Now the company plans to reorganize production, but still kept secret. Do not forget AMD and its «direct responsibilities», while continuing to replenish its range of new products: last month were released three new quad processor Phenom X4. For this activity AMD followed strong growth position the company in the ranking: 20 th place, she moved to fifth. AMD competitor Intel, in the person also did not waste time. In the rating of proposals corporation was able to deprive the company Apple second place which is occupied for several months. After 40 years after the founding of the Intel case is excellent. To verify this, just look at the financial performance of the corporation for the II quarter of this year. In July Intel introduced the Intel Centrino 2 platform, which immediately attracted the leading manufacturers of notebook PCs. In addition, in the near future, the corporation intends to release to the market a number of promising products, including - dual-core processor Intel Atom, chips in the microarchitecture Nehalem, as well as video Larrabee. According to Steysi Smith, financial director of Intel, earnings for the quarter range from $ 10 to $ 10.6 billion (In doing so, according to Reuters Estimates, analysts predict Intel revenue in the III quarter at roughly $ 10.3 billion) Commenting on its forecast, Smith said that Intel has shown good performance during the year even though the economic slowdown has affected not only the U.S. but also Western Europe. The main reason for good performance Intel, according to Smith - the timely entry into the market of processors for mobile devices - in particular the issue of chip Atom, designed for use in low-cost gadgets and laptops. Now the development of sales Atom is becoming a priority goal in a slowdown of the world PC market. Quote: «Atom has become very good acceleration at the start, exceeding our expectations at the beginning of the year. The product fits perfectly into a modern prosperous state is not the American economy in which consumers pay more attention to low-cost device.
However, according to findirektora Intel, the company intends to establish exactly how and where the market is needed Atom, only in the next six months. In the meantime, it is assumed that the processor is well suited for use in mobile devices in emerging markets, as well as for people who want to be the second low-cost PCs in addition to the core. Along with AMD and Intel demonstrated a positive trend and other producers of computer equipment. For example, the company closed the first ten Dell, Toshiba and Nvidia divided between the 13th row, and Lenovo took 17 th place.
Incidentally, the Lenovo
According to quarterly reports of Lenovo, net profit in the II quarter of this year reached $ 110 million - a 65% increase over the same period last year, when profit was $ 66.84 million These figures surpassed the expectations of most analysts, forecast profit of $ 107 , 47 million Nevertheless, the total income in the II quarter increased by only 10% and amounted to $ 4.2 billion According to the company on quarterly financial performance crisis has affected the American economy and an earthquake in China. The structure of sales of Lenovo may be the one hand, the slowdown in sales of desktops, which amounted to only 3% (up to $ 1.7 billion), and strengthening the position of notebook PCs, sales growth which reached 17% (up to $ 2.4 billion). Now the share of notebook PCs accounted for 57% of sales. In the regional division showed the best performance of China, where sales growth was 22% (up to $ 1.7 billion). In the U.S., has sold products to $ 1.1 billion in Europe, Africa and the Middle East - at $ 904 million, while in Asia (excluding China) - at $ 497 million as stated by representatives of Lenovo, commenting on the results of the work in the II quarter, the company special attention to the Olympic Games in Beijing, where she is an official sponsor. According to plans, the fourth in the world PC manufacturer, Olympic marketing activities should make it a globally recognizable brand.
Via changing specialization
One of the few producers of alternative chipset - the company Via - will not produce a platform for third-party processors and plans to concentrate instead on the release of its own processor platform to x86. Vice President Richard Brown, Via said in this regard: «One of the main reasons why we decided to fully engage x86, is that, we estimate that business to produce chipsets for third-party processor is dead». As examples, Brown led the company to Intel and AMD, which themselves produce chipsets for its processors. Intel has reached what is now nearly all of its processors provided with its own chipsets. With the acquisition of ATI Technologies in 2006, AMD is approaching a similar scenario.
Rumors that Via is considering withdrawal from the business of manufacturing chipsets, there was still last autumn, when the publication DigiTimes reported the resignation of President and Chief Executive unit Via to develop platforms Cheveya Lin, together with the company, left the team of 40 specialists. Later they joined the ASMedia Technology - an affiliate Taiwan Asustek Computer. Among the reasons for departure cited fierce competition from Intel and AMD, as well as the uncertain future line of chipsets. Relations between Via and the world's largest manufacturer of processors Intel has always left wanting. Thus, in 2001, Via released a chipset Apollo P4X266, which had the support of DDR memory and a Pentium 4. However, it is necessary license from Intel for formulation of the chipset was not available. Fear of getting out of favor Intel, manufacturers of motherboards have to produce products based Apollo is not under his own name and under the name Via. Today the company is Via the five largest producers of system logic, which also includes Intel, AMD, Nvidia and SiS. Asked whether the company was able to improve relations with Intel, Richard Brown replied as follows: «Our company and Intel are direct competitors in the very difficult market. Nonetheless, we respect the Intel as our opponent and as the company has made an enormous contribution to the development of industry PCs ». I recall that in early August there were rumors that went out of business chipset company Nvidia. However, this information was immediately overcome its officials, who said that out of this segment does not make sense, because the position of Nvidia it strong as ever.
Personnel who decide everything
Workers at IBM plants in the state of Vermont expects a 10 per cent decline in wages at the beginning of next year. Jeff Tell, a representative of IBM in Vermont, said that the company ceases to pay 20 per cent premium working 12-hour shifts. These measures affect about 3500 workers assembly line. To compensate for the abolition of bonuses, IBM plans to implement a single 10-per cent increase in basic rates. IBM plants in the state of Vermont produces processors for cellular phones, DVD-players and other consumer electronics, as well as specific processors for the game console. The company also intends to lower wages for some $ 120 administrative employees. Working night shifts will continue to receive bonuses of 12.5%. Thus, the measures taken by the leadership of the company, a different impact on individual staff members. The representative of IBM, competing companies do not pay bonuses to their workers. Jeff Tell also said that the aim of the planned IBM measures is to reduce costs and remain competitive.
Sanjay Jakarta, the new head of the mobile units of Motorola, intends to take a key strategy for the company's solutions for just 90 days. According to him, for the three-month period will be subjected to thorough rethinking of mobile platforms, and Motorola plans to manufacture cellular phones. Jakarta also intend to invite the new top managers to oversee areas of responsibility in which he personally did not have enough experience. I recall that, until recently, Sanjay worked Jakarta Administrative Director of Qualcomm. Observers suggest that many top managers will peremaneny it from there.
This amazing Russian IT-market
According to company IDC, in 2007 the Russian market for integrated systems management (ISUP) grew by 58.7% to $ 579 million, this figure almost double the average growth rate of Russian IT-market. According to analyst IDC software Petra Gorodetskogo, end-users to fully appreciate the importance of ISUP as a key tool for optimizing business processes and enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises. «A providers and their partners were able to offer customers the best choice including solutions for individual business segments and industries», - explained the expert. It seems that the needs of enterprises is not only to acquire tools to extract information - for them relevant and appropriate financial reporting requirements of domestic law. That's why the market share of the budget and regularly updated products «1C» has been steadily increasing. And if, in 2005-2006, growth in market presence «1C» took place by reducing the share of Microsoft, in 2007, the «victim» proved corporation Oracle. Her representative explains what is happening on a small number of potential customers «heavy» ERP-systems. It's no secret that many Russian enterprises, including major industrial, in the absence of free funds are forced to be satisfied with the products easier class. «Rich heavyweight» are still companies with a continuous production cycle, specializing in the processing of raw materials including oil, as well as retailer, «Energy». Since the introduction of «1C» does not weigh heavily on corporate budgets, to automate the company began small and medium-sized businesses. This is truly a «bonanza». According to Deputy Director of corporate management systems company IBS Alexandre Saksina, the success of SAP is primarily the result of a corporation that is sensitive to a segment of the SME. According to IDC, in the SMB market in Russia SAP has received more than 30% of their income. It seems that Oracle policy in this regard inadequate. Specialists IDC believes that the Russian market ERP-systems in the next five years will grow by an average of 35% annually. The cost of automated systems in the retail and wholesale trade, energy, health, education and government will grow ahead of market dynamics.
Shares of major suppliers of ERP-systems in the Russian market (%)
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |
| SAP | 39,7 | 45 | 49,6 |
| Oracle | 21,7 | 18 | 14,9 |
| «1С» | 9,7 | 12 | 14,4 |
| Microsoft | 9,4 | 8 | 7,8 |
Source: IDC.
Apple Mac vs. Windows PC
An interesting statistics published by NPD Group. According to her figures, the average price of your Mac twice higher than the average Windows PC. While the average price of Windows-notebook dropped from $ 877 in June 2006 to $ 700 now, the average price of mobile PCs Apple is still about $ 1500, dropping over the past two years at $ 59. Desktops Mac is now sold in an average of $ 1000, while the typical Windows PC costs about $ 550. Of course, all these prices without taking into account the specifications of computers are only statistical interest rather typical configuration Mac and PC differed so much that they try to compare quite difficult. This is what is remarkable: despite the much greater difference in price, market share Apple has continued to grow, according to Gartner, currently at 8.5%. The main reason for the growth analysts believe Vista problems and lack of proper marketing response from Microsoft, which prompted buyers to part with a large sum of money in order to avoid meeting with the new Windows. Nevertheless, Apple is not sitting idly by, experts believe. The new marketing initiative by Microsoft, Apple decides to respond to a series of rollers Get A Mac, could bring slower growth of sales of products labeled with nadkushennogo apple. However, in Cupertino, it seems, this has long been ready: this could speak, announced in July the company reduce its gross margin from 35% to 30% - and with continued cost it can only report on lowering retail prices. Calculations show that if Apple is going to continue to increase its market share, or at least freeze it at 8.5%, prices would have to go down.
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