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Storage Management
By Jeanne Lim, ZDNet Asia
The data storage industry, which encompasses the disk storage, tape, and storage software markets, has been in a constant state of flux. Although demand for storage capacity has surged, some hardware vendors still face stagnant revenues due to downward pricing pressures.
According to IDC, the total Asia-Pacific tape drive market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6 percent in unit shipments from 2004-2008, but revenues are expected to grow at only 1.3 percent during the same period.
Faring better are the external disk storage vendors, which saw a surge in demand in the first half of this year. The storage software market posted a strong showing in the first quarter of 2005, too.
However, all sub-segments of the storage industry failed to escape the scepter of consolidation: Symantec's acquisition of Veritas, Sun's purchase of StorageTek, and the Quantum buy of Certance.
As a result, some of the storage candidates for the ZDNet Asia Top Tech 50 Index literally disappeared overnight, which makes it all the more laudable for those that made the list. These vendors are BMC, Dell, EMC, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM, Microsoft, NEC, NCR, Network Appliance, Seagate, Sony, Symantec, Toshiba, Unisys, and Western Digital.
But special mention must go to the storage players that did not make it to the Top Tech 50, without which the industry wouldn't be as exciting to watch. They are the ones that have also set up shop in the Asia-Pacific region and have succeeded in making some waves in this region. They are also the ones that make the storage landscape more competitive with credible products.
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Top Tech 50 companies in Storage management
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BMC Software
Founded in September 1980, BMC Software makes enterprise management software designed to enable companies to better maintain their networks.
Dell Computer
When Michael Dell first started his company in 1984, while still a student at the University of Texas, he decided that a direct sales model was the best way to make computing accessible to customers around the globe. This strategy proved successful, because for the past 20 years, Dell has firmly established itself as one of the leading PC brands in the world.
EMC
Being bold has paid off for EMC. Despite being in a fast-commoditizing storage hardware market, the storage giant has managed to grow and lead the market in many of the segments that it competes in.
Fujitsu
The world's third-largest IT services provider, Fujitsu was established in June 1935 as a subsidiary of Fuji Electric.
Hewlett-Packard
Do not dismiss Hewlett-Packard just yet. The once-troubled ship found itself a new captain, CEO Mark Hurd, and he could be just the one to steer the company back onto the right course.
Hitachi Data Systems
Trust Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) to stick by its guns to drum up the benefits of storage virtualization when other storage vendors are still extolling the wonders of information lifecycle management.
IBM
Over the last 10 years, IBM has succeeded in transitioning from a mainframe systems company to a top provider of IT business services. This business now accounts for about half of its revenues.
Microsoft
This company needs no introduction. What started in 1975 as two college boys' aspiration to turn PCs into useful machines, Microsoft has since blasted its way into becoming a key player in the software industry today.
NCR
The next time you visit an automated teller machine (ATM) to withdraw some cash, you might be able to spot a three-letter acronym NCR, engraved somewhere on the system.
NEC
An industry veteran, NEC was founded in Japan in 1899. Originally known as Nippon Electric Company, the company's early business dealt with the production, sales and maintenance of telephones and switches. Its global expansion took place in the 1950s, with the setting up of Nippon Electric New York (now NEC America). It was also during this period that NEC ventured into computing systems.
Network Appliance
Network Appliance is able to hold its own against the bigger storage giants like EMC and Hitachi Data Systems.
Seagate Technology
Keeping market forces at bay can be a drag, as the folks at Seagate have found out. Like other hard disk drive (HDD) manufacturers, Seagate continues to fight commoditization of its drives for desktops and servers, much due to excess capacity and falling prices.
Sony
Think of Sony and some of the things that come immediately to mind are the Walkman music player and the Playstation game console.
Symantec
An ambitious Symantec has been beefing up its security prowess and expanding its offerings through acquisitions.
Unisys
In 1837, E. Remington & Sons introduced the first commercially-viable typewriter. Remington then delivered its UNIVAC computer to the U.S. Census Bureau, and makes history in 1952 by predicting the election of the country's president before the polls closed.
Western Digital
Western Digital has been making hard disk drives (HDD) since 1988 and is considered a stalwart of the industry.
ZDNet Asia Top Tech categories
Systems | Networking and communications | Storage management | Security | Software Infrastructure | Services | Business applications | Internet services
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