October 14, 2008
Pacific Place Conference Centre (Annapurna Room), Hong Kong

The Worldwide PC Market is mature, but demand is still strong, and there are many opportunities for suppliers. Vendors all around continue to experiment with exciting designs, technologies, and low price points. Emerging markets are still under-penetrated and are major growth opportunities. Even in the more penetrated markets there is still much opportunity, although competition in North America and Western Europe is intense, with vendors vying for market share gains. However there are challenges and bumps on the road ahead, especially as the economic environment casts a shadow over the market.

Join Philippe, Executive Vice President of IDC International Business Units, as he examines the current state of the WW PC market. He will discuss trends within the main geographical and market segments, reviewing which ones offer the best opportunities for growth, with recommendations on how to capitalize on this ever-changing marketplace. He will look at the main players, with specific focus on Asian players including Lenovo and discuss which ones are best placed to gain share.

The global economy took a turn for the worse in 2008: record oil prices, financial markets volatility, inflation and the ongoing subprime mortgage crisis in the US. The tech industry has not escaped the impact of this economic downturn, but ICT spending has proven much more resilient than in 2001. The next three months, however, will bring another round of budget reviews as ICT buyers and businesses turn their attention to 2009. Spending levels will be increasingly scrutinized as businesses seek to contain costs and risk. This will mean a further examination of short-term investment plans for new or replacement hardware and software. How vulnerable are ICT markets to a continued period of weakness in the global economy? What will be the impact of continuing macroeconomic volatility on overall ICT demand in the next 3-12 months? Which vendors are best positioned to take advantage of current market drivers and inhibitors?

In this presentation, Stephen will interpret ICT spending trends and indicators from 2008 in the context of an updated outlook for market performance in the next 12 months. New forecasts and survey data will be used to answer questions such as:

• How has the economic slowdown impacted ICT spending so far in 2008, and what are the scenarios for the next 12 months?
• What impact is the US economic slowdown having in other regions?
• What does the current economic environment mean for leading IT and telecom vendors?
• Will emerging international ICT markets maintain their current momentum into 2009?