International Data Corporation

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International Data Corporation (IDC) is a market research and analysis firm specializing in information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology. IDC is a subsidiary of International Data Group. IDC is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts and claims to have over 1000 analysts in 50 countries.[1]

Patrick J McGovern founded IDC in Massachusetts with a friend, Fred Kirch, in 1964 after a UNIVAC executive complained to him about the lack of market research information available on the emerging computer industry.[2] At the beginning, the company produced a computer industry data base and a newsletter, EDP Industry & Market Report.

Contents

[edit] Confusion about term IDC

International Data Corporation owns trademark IDC. [3] At the same time, an unrelated entity, Interactive Data Corporation is traded on NYSE under ticker IDC.

[edit] Criticism

Various IDC reports and forecasts were criticized for deficiencies in methodology. Notable cases include:

  • Yearly joint BSA/IDC studies on software piracy [4][5][6]
  • IDC comparison of TCO of Linux vs Windows 2000 [7]
  • IDC forecasts on Itanium sales [8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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