The release states that the overall disk and tape storage hardware segment increased to USD 28.2 billion in 2006, of which IBM captured 22.2% of the combined revenue for the full year, with HP getting 20.9%, and EMC with 13.2%.
IBM's storage software revenue growth for 2006 was 28.2%- nearly three-and-a-half times greater than the overall storage software segment.
IDC, in the report, also stated that with continuing mergers and acquisitions, and increasing importance of archiving, data protection, and disaster recovery more and more customers are utilizing disk, data, and storage software in order to manage a more integrated storage infrastructure.
IDC further stated that "It began monitoring storage vendor participants from a combined perspective in an effort to bring visibility into the strategic choices that are being made."
