Japan Thin Client Solution 2008-2012 Forecast and Second Half 2007 Analysis: Deployment Case Studies

This IDC study analyzes the trends in the Japan thin client market in 4Q07, sheds light on the current market conditions, and consequently forecasts future market trends. We sought to understand the overall thin client solution market, which includes adding IT services to thin client systems. A thin client system comprises servers, a network, and a thin client terminal, which may be a dedicated or a converted thin client terminal. Values up to 2007 were based on actual performance data while those from 2008 beyond are forecast values. In terms of quarterly data, values until 4Q07 (October-December 2007) are actual values while those from 1Q08 (January-March 2008) onward are forecast values. All the values have been updated in March 2008.

"In 2008, the review and trial deployment period for thin clients ended, ushering in the period of full-fledge deployment. In addition to understanding problems IT managers, end-users, and managements are facing, vendors should consider IT managers as key persons in terms of promoting thin client deployment. They should also actively disclose the results of user case studies as well as create opportunities for IT managers to learn more about thin clients. Amid the proliferation of desktop virtualization, vendors have to understand the positions of users and consult with them as well as propose thin client solutions that promote green IT and virtualization," says Masahiro Katayama, group manager, PC Research, IDC Japan.