IDC predicts that 2008 will be marked by
greatly increased investment in emerging markets, introduction of a
raft of new online product and service offerings, the opening-up of
closed business models to communities, and innovative new
approaches to simple, solutions-oriented packaging.
IDC expects there to be so much investment
in these disruptive markets, business models, and offerings, that
they will cease to be considered disruptions – they will become the
new status quo for competing in the IT marketplace for the next
decade.
"Disruptive technologies have been a
persistent theme in IDC's predictions over the past several years,"
said Frank Gens, senior vice president of Research at IDC. "These
technologies have been creeping into everything from enterprise
software and hardware to consumer gadgets and telecom services,
forcing vendors to rethink their offerings. In 2008, the era of
experimentation will end as industry leaders get serious about
transforming their products and services to take advantage of – and
meet the challenges posed by – these new technologies and business
models. The status quo is about to change."
Alongside these developments, IDC predicts
a continuing surge in green IT that moves market shares as
corporations focus on the greenness of IT purchases and
operations.