Worldwide Tape Automation 2006-2010 Forecast and Analysis

This IDC study analyzes and summarizes the market trends in the tape automation industry and its vendors, and it provides actual quarterly shipment data for 2004 and 2005. This study covers tape automation forecasts of revenue and shipments for 2006-2010 and summarizes various metrics (e.g., library size, technology, and vendor shares) specific to each market segment. Finally, the study offers near-term and long-term expectations for demand, vendor execution, and industry dynamics as well as suggested strategies for industry participants.

"The worldwide tape automation market will experience modest shipment growth through the forecast period. However, market revenue will decline as high-volume tape automation products increasingly become commodities. We expect long-term tape automation market value will be adversely impacted by hardware-based disk backup solutions, tighter integration of virtual tape library application software, and the trend away from direct-attached tape solutions," said Robert Amatruda, research manager, Tape and Removable Storage, at IDC.