How the Current Economy Has Changed Consumer Behaviors

Since the economy began its downward spiral into recession in early 2008, we have seen changes in consumer behaviors and habits. Studies have shown that mindsets have shifted and that the current consumer is a very different person than the consumer of several years ago. Many marketing research services have begun to create their own surveys and reports to gain insight into this new consumer that we are dealing with today.

What most marketing research services begin with is an analysis of consumer behaviors – what are the top drivers of purchase decision making? Are people considering their purchase decisions with more thought to the future consequences? What are people buying more of? Less of? These questions and more can produce an effective study with meaningful results.

So far, various market research services have discovered that durability is a key propeller of consumers’ purchase decision making. This suggests that consumers are looking to the future and considering the long term implications to their current purchasing actions. It means that consumers believe the economic recession is here to stay, at least for a while. Consumers expect spending levels to remain at these reduced levels indefinitely, and they are making their decisions accordingly. A study that questioned consumers regarding their top reasons for buying a product produced the following results: the top three reasons for buying a product are 1) it is durable and will last for a long time; 2) the product will make the consumer’s life easier; and 3) it is something the consumer has always wanted to have.

In another study by a marketing research services company, questions deconstructed what purchases and experiences people miss the most since the economic downturn. The questions posed elicited four main responses: 1) 24 of respondents said they miss dining out in restaurants (including fast food restaurants); 2) 15 said they miss traveling and taking vacations; 3) 14 said they miss buying apparel (clothes and shoes) that they used to purchase; and 4) 10 said they miss the ability to buy something on a whim, and the freedom to buy whatever they want without having to worry about the future. Sentiments like these will likely lead to an increasing desire for these more luxury items and behaviors, and eventually will bring forth increased spending. It is uncertain when this increased spending will begin, but it is clear that it will happen eventually.

Market research services have pressed consumers for more information regarding their opinions of luxury goods. We’ve found that after consumers made attempts to forgo luxury items, they realized that it is not too difficult to go without these goods; many consumers say now that their current budgets reflect the fact that luxury items seem unnecessary to them now. Out of people who declared that they are on a permanently stricter budget with respect to luxury goods, 42 of them said the reason is because they no longer feel a need to have these luxury items.

In fact, the definition of luxury seems to have changed. In one market research services study, consumers declared that small splurges are now luxuries to them: they feel guilt over eating out (even if it’s inexpensive) or buying an item at full price. In the past, luxury items were more extravagant: expensive cars, high tech electronics, and fancy clothes. Consumers indicate that they, in fact, do not want to be associated with these big ticket displays of wealth.

The recession has brought about a fundamental shift in the way people view happiness. Consumers now say that the things they want most in life are not material, but emotional. People want to be happy and spend time with family and friends. One survey reveals that the top indicators of success (according to the consumers surveyed) are 1) being able to have dinner with family often; and 2) being able to exercise every day.

From these survey results and from the current state of the economy, it is clear that the current American consumer is very different now than he or she was several years ago. As the definition of luxury changes, producers must adapt their products and marketing strategies to fit the current spending conditions. In the next few months and years we will experience changes (some lasting, some temporary) in the market and economy. As these changes evolve, market research will be crucial to determining successful strategies for producers.

About the Author: Rachel Bonsignore is Associate Director of The Omnibus Company. The Omnibus Company, a division of Kelton Research, provides fast and accurate http://www.omnibus.com/ market research services and http://www.omnibus.com/ marketing research services to public relations and marketing professionals looking for newsworthy, actionable data.

Article Source: ActiveAuthors.com

Mobile Phone Shipments Rebound To Double-Digit Growth in Fourth Quarter, According to IDC

The worldwide mobile phone market grew 11.3% in the fourth quarter of 2009 (4Q09), ending five consecutive quarters of retrenchment. According to IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped 325.3 million units in 4Q09 compared to 292.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2008. Vendors shipped a total of 1.13 billion units on a cumulative worldwide basis in 2009, down 5.2% from the 1.19 billion units shipped in 2008.

"The mobile phone market has rebounded in dramatic fashion," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Phone Tracker. "The Asia/Pacific region and the United States were primarily responsible for pushing the market back into growth territory. Overall, vendors offered a wide array of converged mobile devices (smartphones) and messaging devices in the seasonally strong fourth quarter, to take advantage of increased user demand."

"One area of the market that has consistently shown growth all year is the converged mobile device market," said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Devices Technology and Trends team. "Consumer tastes for mobile phones have increasingly shifted from simple voice telephony to greater data usage, and both handset vendors and carriers have been eager to meet demand despite ongoing economic challenges. IDC believes that the converged mobile device market grew nearly 30% year over year, and that the market will continue to gain momentum as device selection increases and price decreases continue into 2010 and beyond."

Market Outlook

IDC anticipates that the worldwide mobile phone market will rebound in 2010. "In 2009, the mobile phone market, like many others, contracted due to economic pressures. But as the year progressed, demand for mobile phones increased each quarter while year-over-year declines progressively decreased," adds Llamas. "Economic recovery mixed with pent-up demand will create positive conditions for handset vendors in both developed and emerging markets in 2010. Meanwhile, key handset vendors expect to exceed their 2009 shipment levels with refreshed portfolios, leveraging interest in touchscreens, messaging devices, and converged mobile devices."

Regional Analysis

• In Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan), 2009 as a whole was relatively flat year on year, marked by a stronger preference for low-cost handsets in China and India as users substituted away from more expensive options under recessionary pressure. However, the Asia/Pacific market saw strong gains in 4Q09, reflecting a strong start to recovery. Touchscreen-enabled devices remained a hot segment of the market, helping to drive the demand for converged mobile devices across the region.

• The Western European handset market grew on both a year-over-year and sequential basis in 4Q09. LG Electronics and Samsung performed particularly well thanks to their collective strength in the traditional mobile phones segment while Apple, Nokia, and Research In Motion helped sustain growth in the converged mobile device market. On a full-year basis, however, shipments into the region still declined as the improved second-half performance was not enough to offset the declines in the first half. In CEMA (Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa), vendors found pockets of improvement during 4Q09, but overall sales in the region were focused on entry-level handsets targeted at first-time users.

• The North American market finished 2009 relatively strong posting the second-highest regional growth after the Asia/Pacific region (excluding Japan). Converged mobile devices remained in high demand in the fourth quarter due to a combination of lower priced devices and rate plans as well as greater user and carrier interest. However, feature phones accounted for the majority of shipments last year despite an overall volume decrease on a year-over-year basis. In Canada, mobile phone shipment volumes were buoyed by the introduction of a new wireless network, which increased the demand for smartphones, particularly the Apple iPhone.

• The Latin American mobile phone market shrunk in the fourth quarter. However, the performance marked an improvement from the double-digit declines posted in previous quarters. Stronger Brazilian currency pushed prices for mobile phone imports lower, spurring greater demand. In Argentina, channel partners purchased additional product ahead of a new tax rate that came into effect in December. Finally, the popularity of pre-paid service options across the regions included more converged mobile devices, stoking greater demand from vendors.

Top Five Mobile Phone Vendors

Nokia ended the year with a strong fourth quarter performance. Shipments of 126.9 million in 4Q09 represented the company's highest quarterly total in two years (since 4Q07). The higher handset figures were boosted by improved smartphone sales. Nokia introduced a number of new smartphone models, including the X6, to various markets. When its handset shipment performance is measured on an annual basis, however, Nokia shipped fewer devices in 2009 than in each of the last two years.

Samsung bested its single quarter record in 3Q09 by shipping 68.8 million units in 4Q09. The company capitalized on growing interest in converged mobile devices with its Omnia2 while addressing end-user demand for touchscreen and quick-messaging devices within developed markets. In emerging markets, Samsung's attention to local market tastes and extended distribution channels helped build its presence. Despite its heady growth, the company fell further behind market leader Nokia while distancing itself ahead of LG Electronics.

LG Electronics followed last quarter's record-breaking shipment volume with a new record, reaching 33.9 million units in 4Q09. However, operating margins took a sharp drop from 8.4% in 3Q09 to 1.3% in 4Q09, reflecting average selling price declines, higher marketing expenses, and channel expansion within emerging markets. Still, the company continues to reap success from its popular enV and Cookie products while building its converged mobile device portfolio with the Android-powered GW620 and GW880 and Windows Mobile-powered GW820.

Sony Ericsson posted its sixth consecutive quarterly loss this month. However, the joint venture's gross margins rose to 23% from 15% on a year-over-year basis, thanks to sales of new higher-margin mobiles. The vendor's sales of 14.6 million handsets represented its highest shipment figure of the year thanks to the introduction of new models such as the Satio and Aino. It also announced the Xperia X10 and Vivaz models that the company says will be released later this year.

Motorola ended 2009 with mixed results. The company posted its 12th consecutive quarter of year-over-year shipment declines, but also reported its lowest year-over-year decline since the first half of 2008. Moreover, Motorola recorded an operating loss of $132 million, a reduction of nearly 80% from 4Q08 levels. In its first quarter, Motorola demonstrated how Android has become a key component of its product portfolio, shipping 2 million units worldwide. Its DROID and CLIQ/DEXT devices were shipped to more than 20 countries. It also recently announced the BACKFLIP, MOTOROI, MT710, and the XT800 models, which are slated for release later in the year.

Top Five Mobile Phone Vendors, Shipments, and Market Share, Q4 2009 (Units in Millions)

Vendor	4Q09 Shipment Volumes	4Q09 Market Share	4Q08 Shipment Volumes	4Q08 Market Share	4Q09/4Q08 Growth
1. Nokia	126.9	39.0%	113.1	38.7%	12.2%
2. Samsung	68.8	21.1%	52.8	18.1%	30.3%
3. LG	33.9	10.4%	25.7	8.8%	31.9%
4. Sony Ericsson	14.6	4.5%	24.2	8.3%	-39.7%
5. Motorola	12.0	3.7%	19.2	6.6%	-37.5%
Others	69.1	21.2%	57.4	19.6%	20.4%
Total	325.3	100.0%	292.4	100.0%	11.3%

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 28, 2009

Note: Vendor shipments are branded shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors.

Top Five Mobile Phone Vendors, Shipments, and Market Share, 2009 (Units in Millions)

Vendor	2009 Shipment Volumes	2009 Market Share	2008 Shipment Volumes	2008 Market Share	2009/2008 Growth
1. Nokia	431.8	38.3%	468.4	39.4%	-7.8%
2. Samsung	227.2	20.1%	196.6	16.5%	15.6%
3. LG	117.9	10.5%	100.8	8.5%	17.0%
4. Sony Ericsson	57.1	5.1%	96.6	8.1%	-40.9%
5. Motorola	55.2	4.9%	100.1	8.4%	-44.9%
Others	238.6	21.2%	227.6	19.1%	4.8%
Total	1,127.8	100.0%	1,190.1	100.0%	-5.2%

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 28, 2009

Note: Vendor shipments are branded shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors.

Mobile Phones – These small, battery-powered, voice-centric devices utilize operator-provided cellular/PCS air interfaces for voice communication. They are designed primarily, in both form factor and feature set, for a compelling mobile telephony experience, but may also include text-messaging capability. Mobile phones may include a headset jack for hands-free operation as well as a variety of features, such as personal information management, multimedia, games, or office applications. Mobile phones exist at all points along the form factor, price point, and feature set continua. Mobile phones that combine voice communications capabilities with pen or keypad handheld data features are tracked within the Converged Devices category.

For more information about IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or knagamine@idc.com.

Contact

For more information, contact:

Kevin Restivo
krestivo@idc.com
416-673-2230

Latest Tests of Treadmills and Ellipticals Yield 14 Top Machines

Plus, how to decide which is right for your workout needs

After putting 48 machines to the test, Consumer Reports Health lists 14 recommended treadmills and ellipticals for a home workout, including five Best Buy choices which combine performance and value. The report is part of “Get Fit In 2010,” a do-it-yourself Web guide at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org. The Web site includes new ratings of bathroom scales, fitness tips for a variety of workout styles, and low-cost ways to stay healthy in bad weather.

Top Treadmills: If you like to run or walk

Treadmills have long been the most popular home workout machines, commanding more than 50 percent of the market. They’re a great option if the workout of choice is running or walking. Running, after all, is the gold standard of cardiovascular exercise. Consumer Reports Health tested 29 treadmills, analyzing ease of use, ergonomics, exercise range, quality and durability of construction, safety and more.

In the nonfolding category, Consumer Reports Health recommends four machines, including one CR Best Buy, the AFG 13.0 AT for $1,800. It’s the best value of the bunch and comes with a variety of exercise programs. Other options in this category include the top-rated Precor 9.31, a powerful well-built model that scored well across the board at a price of $3,300. Nonfolding machines are usually more powerful with longer decks and tend to be higher priced.

The best folding treadmills save space and compare favorably with any treadmill. Consumer Reports Health recommends four machines and identifies the Sole F63 as a CR Best Buy at $1,000, a good price for a machine that tops out at 12 mph with a 13 percent incline. The top rated Bowflex 7-Series, priced at $1500, has a bright easy-to-read monitor display, and its 60-inch deck is as long as the deck of any nonfolding model’s, which makes it suitable for just about any runner.

Consumer Reports Health notes that some treadmills now come with a negative-incline option to simulate downhill running, which works different muscle groups. Other models offer adjustable cushioning. While not a CR Best Buy or Recommended model, the NordicTrack A2550 scored in the middle of the pack of the folding models; it allows users to alternate the feel of their workout from running on concrete to running on a padded track. Some treadmills come with gadgets such as an MP3 dock with speakers or a headphone jack. “It’s a good idea to try the machines out in a store and see how you like these features. Bottom line, if those bells and whistles entice you to work out more, they may be worth the expense,” said Nancy Metcalf, senior program editor, Consumer Reports Health.

One of the folding treadmills, the Best Fitness BFT1, earned a rating of Don’t Buy: Performance Problem because its incline feature malfunctioned on two of the three samples tested by Consumer Reports.

Top Ellipticals: For a good cardiovascular workout without the high impact of running

Elliptical exercisers have been gaining ground in the marketplace in recent years. Their motion provides a good cardiovascular workout, but without the high impact of running. Those with joint problems or individuals who are carrying a little extra weight might find that ellipticals are a good choice. Another benefit of ellipticals is the ability to crank up the resistance for strength training or reverse stride to work slightly different muscles.

Consumer Reports’ testers pedaled on 19 ellipticals, evaluating exercise range, ergonomics, construction, safety, and more, recommending six machines. Of those machines, three are Consumer Reports Best Buys: the Sole E35 at $1300 is the top rated of the three Best Buys, followed by the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 for $900 and the LifeCore LC985VG for $1,000. The Sole has an adjustable incline, pedals with a changeable foot angle, and controls on the moving handgrips, while the NordicTrack is notable for its programs controlled by its heart-rate monitor and a ramp that can be adjusted electronically while working out, features usually found in more expensive models. The LifeCore has a dial control for adjusting resistance and selecting from multiple preset programs.

How to shop for the machine that’s right for you:

• Budget and midrange models can usually be found at Sears, Sports Authority, Walmart and other discount and sporting-goods chains. Shop at sporting-goods specialty stores for moderate to high-end models.
• Keep a close eye on dimensions. Exercisers will need extra space to safely get on and off a machine. When shopping for ellipticals, take close stock of the vertical space, especially if there are low ceilings, because exercisers will be elevated on the machine.
• The machine’s display should have easy-to-use controls and will show some combination of heart rate, calories burned, speed, resistance levels, and details such as time and distance.
• When it comes to warranties, look for one that provides two to three years of coverage on major moving parts and a year for labor. Surveys on the probability of failure and repair costs have shown that extended warranties are probably not a good deal.
• Pay attention to ergonomics and adjustability. When using an elliptical, there should never be discomfort in the knee or hip joints, and knees shouldn’t bump the frame or handgrips. See more detailed tips online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

Gartner Says China's Economic Stimulus Policies Will Drive $39 Billion in IT Spending Through 2013

Stimulus-Driven IT Spending in China Will Reach Its Highest Level in 2010

STAMFORD, Conn., January 28, 2010 — 

The multiple stimulus policies issued by China's central government when the worldwide economic crisis hit China's export trade will continue to drive the purchase and consumption of IT products and services, according to Gartner Inc. Economic stimulus policies will drive IT spending in China to $38.9 billion through 2013, offering a significant opportunity for IT providers.

"The Chinese government is seeking to counter the decline in its export trade by encouraging domestic demand, and it appears that it is succeeding,"said Oliver Xu, principalresearch analyst at Gartner. "We predict that stimulus-driven IT spending will reach its highest level in 2010, primarily because most stimulus policy measures and plans were finalized and executed in mid-2009."

The main stimulus policies issued by the Chinese government include:

1. A $583.9 billion (4 trillion yuan) package that addresses infrastructure and public facilities/organizations
2. The Ten Industries Revitalization Plan, which aims to help enterprises in particular industrial segments
3. Various smaller subsidy programs and tax reductions for consumers

Mr. Xu said that the most visible stimulus-related IT spending will occur within the transportation services and equipment, healthcare, and construction verticals, which are highly dependent on IT and invest in it aggressively.

Telecom is the most in-demand segment. Gartner expects stimulus policies will drive IT spending in telecom to reach $4.5 billion in 2010, and for the period form 2009 through 2013 IT spending in this segment will surpass $14.2 billion. Hardware is the second-largest segment, with spending from the stimulus policies to reach $4.1 billion in 2010, and for the five years of 2009 through 2013 hardware spending will total $13 billion.

"The Chinese government will continue executing on stimulus policies implemented in 2009, even though economic performance indexes for first three quarters of 2009 already indicate substantial signs of recovery, Mr. Xu said. "The Ten Industry Revitalization Plan seeks to further long-term goals while also having an immediate effect on China's economy."

IT vendors seeking to benefit from China's economic stimulus policies should primarily target IT users in the construction, transportation and healthcare verticals, while also targeting the industries covered by the Ten Industry Revitalization Plan, which focuses on restructuring businesses and upgrading their technology. Gartner recommended that vendors target the highest level of contacts in companies that benefit from stimulus policies, because enterprises that have benefited the most from the stimulus policies are largely state-owned central and local companies and organizations, which make centralized IT purchases.

Overseas-based IT vendors are advised to target the product and service areas in which local competitors cannot perform well. Although none of the policies issued by the Chinese government specifically indicate that local IT vendors should be favored in IT purchasing, such vendors might gain an advantage through their private connections.

"Hardware, software and IT services providers should track government policies to see how they affect purchasing decisions and adjust their go-to-market strategies accordingly, as the Chinese government will likely change its policies as the global economic downturn progresses," Mr. Xu said.

Additional information is available in the report "Emerging Market Analysis: China's Economic Stimulus Policies Will Drive $39 Billion in IT Spending Through 2013." The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=1274216.

Contact:


Christy Pettey
Gartner
+1 408 468 8312
christy.pettey@gartner.com

IDC Energy Insights Forecasts Market for Meter Data Management (MDM) to Grow by Almost 30% to Reach $869.1 Million by 2013

IDC Energy Insights Forecasts Market for Meter Data Management (MDM) to Grow by Almost 30% to Reach $869.1 Million by 2013

27 Jan 2010
New IDC Energy Insights Study Shows MDM Critical Technology for Energy Companies Implementing Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

FRAMINGHAM, MA, January 27, 2010 – The market for meter data management (MDM) is growing at a fast pace with the introduction of smart metering, a new study published by IDC Energy Insights reveals. IDC Energy Insights forecasts the North American market to grow at a CAGR of 29.4% from $239.9 million in 2008 to $869.1 million in 2013.

According to IDC Energy Insights’ new study, Vendor Assessment: Industry Short List for Meter Data Management – Getting to Scale(Document # EI221319), smart metering is delivering exponentially greater volumes of data that can be used to support a whole range of offerings to customers. At the same time, this wealth of data can be mined for operational and business intelligence. MDM is a must-have technology for energy companies implementing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).

IDC Energy Insights' research shows that currently, large utilities make up over 80% of the market for MDM in North America. The average deal size for a small utility is from $150,000 to $250,000, while larger utilities can have MDM contracts of $2 million to $4 million.

"The new energy economy is driving utilities to adopt new ways of serving their customers," said Jill Feblowitz, practice director of IDC Energy Insights. "The introduction of new technology, such as AMI/smart metering, is also changing the way companies interact with their customers."

This report uses IDC Energy Insights' Short List methodology to evaluate the vendors supplying MDM applications to the utility market. This analysis is intended to help energy executives arrive at a short list of IT suppliers that best address the needs of the business. Vendors evaluated for this study include Aclara, Ecologic Analytics, eMeter, Hansen Technologies, Itron, and Oracle.

"Companies are just beginning to test the scale of large implementations, as smart metering goes system-wide," continued Feblowitz. "Our research shows that scalability is the most important criteria for assessing the MDM. Utilities want to be confident that when they scale up from pilot to system-wide implementation of smart metering, the MDM will be able to handle increased volumes of meter data and process it quickly."

Among the key findings of this study are the following:

• Vendor offerings of MDM have proven capable of uploading and cleaning large volumes of data from system-wide implementation of AMI. The jury is still out on how well the MDM can perform in supporting large-scale billing of time-based or other exotic rates.

• There are almost as many possible variations of data delivery as there are meter configurations and customer information systems (CISs). The amount of work performed by MDM and capacity required will depend on the rest of the smart metering technology stack – configurable meters, network bandwidth, and CIS capabilities. Utilities should select the MDM within the context of the stack.

The introduction of AMI provides a means to collect an unprecedented amount of data. IDC Energy Insights' research shows that smart meters can now collect and deliver interval data for the mass-market customer. Most systems are capable of capturing and transporting very small intervals – some systems report capabilities of collecting one-minute interval data. This data can be used to support applications such as traditional billing, time-of-use (TOU) billing, market transactions for deregulation markets, presentation of data to the customer for energy education, and outage detection and restoration analysis.

For additional information about this study, or to arrange a one-on-one briefing with an IDC Energy Insights analyst, please contact Sarah Murray at 781-794-3214 or sarahbethmurray@gmail.com. Reports are available to qualified members of the media; reporters should email sarahbethmurray@gmail.com. For information on purchasing reports, email info@idc-ei.com.

About IDC Energy Insights

IDC Energy Insights provides research-based advisory and consulting services focused on market and technology developments in the energy and utility industries. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, IDC Energy Insights covers both the utility and oil & gas segments, providing independent, timely, and relevant analysis focused on key business and technology issues. IDC Energy Insights serves a diverse and growing global client base, including electric, gas and water utilities, IT suppliers, independent power producers, retail energy providers, oil and gas companies, equipment manufacturers, government agencies, financial institutions, and professional services firms. IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-ei.com or email info@idc-ei.com.

Contact

For more information, contact:

Sandra Collins
scollins@idc.com
508-988-6746

Vigorous IT Transformation Amid Modest Economic Revival Drive APEJ Public Sector Spending in 2010, Says IDC Government Insights

27 Jan 2010

Singapore and Hong Kong – January 27, 2010 – Despite improvements in the economy, governments in the Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) or APEJ region will continue to maintain spending in 2010 until recovery from the global recession is secured. They have put in place ambitious IT transformation plans and this is expected to revolutionize the marketplace radically. More insights are revealed in the report, “Asia/Pacific Public Sector 2010 Top 10 Predictions” (Doc #HK9694102S), which discusses the top 10 IT predictions for the public sector in the Asia/Pacific region for 2010.

"We expect a marketplace driven by the growth of next-generation telecommunications infrastructures and rising use of mobile services. Greater attention will be paid to cloud services and business analytics. There will also be a demand in emerging markets with notable geo-political interests to build intelligent sustainable cities," says Alex S. Kim, Director for IDC Government Insights Asia/Pacific.

Kim adds, "The notion of intelligent or smart cities has emerged as the next wave for attracting new investments and retaining the presence of foreign companies. This up-and-coming business model of the 'Trinity' represents a holistic interaction between the public sector, vendors and citizens — all three working in sync to make inroads for building a smarter and more sustainable world." (See Figure 1)

Figure 1

With the advent of economic stimulus monies, the healthcare vertical will be revolutionizing its services through increased consumer participation and standards interoperability. Kim continues, "We have observed the sector's upcoming plans and it will be moving toward an evidence-based practice of medicine in an increasingly connected environment". For the education vertical, 1:1 computing will characterize the sector's transformation strategy as it takes a step closer to reality through the mass availability of affordable mininotebooks and learning content.

To assist government organizations and the vendors that serve this market, IDC Government Insights Asia/Pacific annually identifies the top trends for the year that will heavily influence the direction and magnitude of IT investment, management, and technology evaluation. Highlights of this report include:

• The public sector's new business awareness — also known as "Wal-Mart" effect of keeping costs low and productivity high — requires a great demand for organizational agility. Governments today are running businesses themselves and have to manage government organizations like a business. They should take cues from the private sector to gain efficiency amid shrinking budgets.
• The new business needs of governments are creating widespread consolidation, integration, and interoperability of IT systems and infrastructure. In doing so, tools and concepts to reduce redundancy and improve standardization, such as service-oriented architecture (SOA), will enable governments to adopt standardized best practices and processes that best fit the requirements of their agencies and departments.
• Governments will be more receptive to exploring and assimilating new stakeholder/citizenry engagement models through platforms such as new media and the widespread proliferation of mobile devices applications.

For more information on obtaining this report “Asia/Pacific Public Sector 2010 Top 10 Predictions” (Doc #HK9694102S), please contact Jace Tang at +65-6829-7723 or jtang@idc.com.

To set up an interview with Alex S. Kim, please contact Lay-Fang Tan at lftan@idc.com.

On-Demand Webcast On "Public Sector Top 10 Predictions for 2010"

To find out more about IDC Government Insights Asia/Pacific's Public Sector Top 10 Predictions for 2010, please register at IDC’s Webcast Portal to listen to the Webcast presented by Alex S. Kim, Janet A. Chiew and Gerald J. Wang. The webcast will be available from 27 January 2010 to 28 February 2010. The viewing instructions are as follow:

1. Click here to go to the synopsis page of the Webcast.

2. Click on the "Go to Webcast Portal" tab at the bottom of the page.

3. Register yourself at the Webcast Portal page.

4. If you are successfully, you will be directed to a page with the link to the Webcast.

3. You can now view the Webcast.

About IDC Government Insights

IDC Government Insights is headquartered in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area in Falls Church, Virginia, with additional offices worldwide. IDC Government Insights is uniquely qualified to track, analyze, and forecast government technology spending based on in-depth government budget and spending analysis globally. Expert analysts examine IT value based on government-defined key result areas; decipher policy and regulatory goals to identify game-changing government strategies and inform critical decision making; survey government decision-makers to determine effectiveness of IT vendors’ go-to-market strategies; along with government-centric metrics and rankings of suppliers’ effectiveness in addressing specific government business problems, all with absolute independence and transparency. IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-gi.com.

Contact

For more information, contact:

Lay-Fang Tan
lftan@idc.com
+65-6829-7731

You Are On camera

Did you know that wireless hidden cameras are possibly all around you? That’s right.

There are people using them in the park, in college classes, in malls, department stores, in meetings, and in many other places that you frequent. Individuals have their personal reasons as to why they use these hidden cameras in public places. You may even encounter these cameras when you walk into your neighbor’s home or the home of one of your family members. They are virtually everywhere.

Even businesses are in on using wireless cameras to catch thieves. What may look like a pen in the shirt pocket of the clerk may not be a regular ink pen. Then again, the tie that the manager is wearing may not be your usual tie.

There are many faces to these cameras and that’s because the idea behind them is for them not to be seen. It is important in certain environments to make sure individuals are acting the way they need to. In other words, they have to be fair and moral. Anyone who can’t be that way when they think they are by themselves has the potential to turn in a heartbeat in other situations.

However, these cameras are not just found in businesses and homes. They are found virtually anywhere and everywhere. You never know when the book that someone is reading in the park may actually have a hidden camera inside of it. That is how well disguised these cameras are.

So if you find yourself in a situation in which wireless hidden cameras could come in handy, go ahead and give it a try. You can start out with one or go ahead and go with many. There are so many different scenarios in which these cameras are needed that it would be almost impossible to go down the entire list. Just keep in mind that they are all around, so be sure to be on your best behavior.