Asia/Pacific (Including Japan) Thin Client Market 2005-2010 Analysis and Forecast

The thin client market in the Asia/Pacific (including Japan), or APJ region, has recorded strong year-on-year growth, from 171,000 units in 2004 to 280,000 units in 2005, representing a 64% expansion. The growth has been fueled by strong vendor push across the countries in the region, and growing acceptance of the thin client concept as vendor presence and education increases across APJ.

The top 5 thin client vendors in APJ in 2005 were Wyse, HP, VXL, Changchun Xingyu, and HCL. However, the cumulative "others" category outsold all but Wyse in 2005, as local vendors in Korea, the PRC, and Taiwan accounted for a large portion of sales in those countries.

Moving forward, the APJ region offers vendors strong opportunities for future growth, given the small current levels of penetration, improvements in technology, and compelling business model that a thin client network offers. Vendors can therefore expect a strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34% through 2010.

"The market for thin clients is just starting to awaken across APJ as vendors set up local sales or representative offices in various APJ countries. This has positive ramifications for market expansion as local presence, together with partnerships with channels, is essential for the education process which has to occur across the IT departments of various different segments. Only then will uptake be sustained enough to create an ongoing momentum, such that thin client computing can eventually be seen as a viable alternative to a traditional desktop rollout for the more ubiquitous processes in the workplace. The tasks themselves that a thin client is able to handle are meanwhile also expanding, as software and hardware technology continues to improve ? which augurs well for the potential reach of this form factor," says Reuben Tan, research manager, Personal Research, IDC Asia/Pacific.