This IDC study (which is a translation of the Japanese report J6030105) compiles shipment records of the Japanese disk storage system market from 2003 to 2005, and presents a market forecast up to 2010. The shipment records and forecast are analyzed in terms of revenue and terabyte shipments. As for suppliers' shipment records and share, their performance from 2003 to 2005 is analyzed in terms of revenue, terabyte shipments and unit shipments. The analyses and forecast of the disk storage system market in Japan are presented by OS type, installation environment type (DAS/SAN/NAS), by external/internal, by captive/non-captive, and by distribution channel type. As for the external disk storage system market, shipment records and forecast are further divided according to system price into high-end, midrange, and low-end.

"The disparity between growing areas and contracting areas is likely to become more obvious in the disk storage system market in Japan after 2006. In order for disk storage system suppliers to expand business in such market, it is important to accurately grasp the changes in the criteria for storage investment among Japanese companies and to implement strategies to take advantage of the future growth opportunities," observes Masaaki Moriyama, group director, Server/Storage Group, IDC Japan.