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Following on from the recent story in Cloud Services World, where a survey had identified the application migration issues facing users, particularly when it came to desktop, and we suggested that this indicated that a combination of desktop virtualisation and thin clients would be an appropriate alternative, a new survey is suggesting that thin client growth is on the up.
The survey, ironically, comes from IDC, which also conducted the earlier survey. The company’s Worldwide Quarterly Enterprise Client Device Tracker, shows that worldwide thin client and terminal client device shipments totaled 1.3 million units in 2Q13, an increase of 7.4 percent from the previous quarter. IDC expects shipments for the full year to be up 2.1percent, year-over-year.
However, the forecast for 2014 is for shipments to reach 5.9 million units, representing 10.4% year-over-year growth. By 2017, these devices are expected to reach 8.3 million units shipped worldwide.
“NComputing grew 70.9% over the first quarter in 2Q13 by strengthening its focus on the education sector in Asia/Pacific, establishing itself as the top vendor in the region, and by increasing its presence in Latin America”
According to Jennifer Song, Research Analyst, Worldwide Trackers, the United States is still the largest thin client market, with HP and Dell leading the way. But she also sees the strongest opportunity coming in China.
“The reduction in cost as well as easier endpoint management that desktop virtualisation provides will drive thin client growth, as these are attractive options for companies wanting simpler management. While VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) can replace old PCs to reduce hardware issues, we also expect to see more offerings of mobile virtualisation applications that allow IT departments to skip the necessity of having to deliver a desktop altogether."
That easing of endpoint management issues maps well onto the growth and acceptance of cloud-delivered services. With thin clients, the daily interface between staff and corporate information and processes becomes just another service that can be provided.
The mobile form factor is currently growing fastest in Japan. Thin clients with LCDs are dominant in Asia/Pacific, the U.S., and Western Europe. The standalone form factor constitutes the largest segment of the overall market, with an 89 percent share, while thin Clients of all types make up the vast majority (96 percent) of enterprise client devices.
