The last months of 2007 were marked by ongoing predictions about declines in IT spending. But recent market research news is taking the edge off some of the gloomier speculation.
There are signs of robust vertical markets for IT wares, including consumer storage, broadcasting, and medical imaging. And there's reportedly no slowdown in U.S. military spending on IT and storage, as reported by analyst firm Input just before Christmas.
There's also anticipation of strength among SMB buyers, evidenced in EMC's latest Clariion announcement. And in a recent poll, many B&S readers reported no decrease in what they'll spend this year.
Is this all just wishful thinking? We'll go out on a limb here and say it doesn't look like it. Sure, storm clouds linger over the U.S. economy. Still, despite plenty of unease about what 2008 will offer in terms of IT spending, some green shoots sprang up this week from the frosty economic landscape.
Yesterday, for example, IBM issued preliminary results for 2007, reporting annual revenues of $98.8 billion, up some 8 percent on the prior year. Boosted by strong international sales, the vendor also reported fourth quarter revenues of $28.9 billion, a 10 percent hike on the prior quarter.
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