Optimism for PC market prospects

Improved control need fuels NMS growth Able Telecommunications Inc., USA (1988) $2 250 The need for improved control over ever expanding and more complex telecommunications networks will fuel the rapid growth in the market for Network Management Systems (NMS) which is expected to expand from $880 M in 1988 to $1 420 M in 1990 and $2 000 M in 1992, according to a report on the NMS market from Able Telecommunications Inc. 'The market for private network servers is in a state of turmoil, primarily because it is in transition from stand-alone proprietary systems to multi-vendor integrated standard systems. Managing these networks has become a necessity' says Network Management Systems. It is aimed at both NMS users and vendors, and features detailed descriptions of the equipment currently available from major vendors in the five key NMS market segments (T1, X.25, Modem, Large General and Voice). In addition, the report provides both user and vendor surveys, as well as a five-year forecast for each of the market segments. Increasingly, the report shows, users need to be able to monitor their network performance, diagnose trouble and reconfigure: 'Users must now select as well as operate management systems which take care of these monitoring and corrective actions.' In the past, network managers have relied on a single 'phone call to their vendor for service and troubleshooting. But because most networks that are being installed today consist of multi-vendor equipment, traditional network control and diagnostic troubleshooting will no longer suffice. In today's NMS environment, diagnostic data must be automatically fed into the control center and trigger alarms whenever a failure occurs somewhere on the network. Specific operator instructions must follow to remedy these failures. The fastest growing segment of the

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NMS market is that of Large General NMS systems, where sales will reach $700M in 1992, compared to $100 M anticipated for 1988. Sales to

the T1 Multiplexer and X.25 NMS markets will show a 3-fold increase over the next five years, from $45 M and $70M to $120M and $250M respectively. Somewhat slower growth will be experienced in the area of Modem NMS, where sales will increase from $65M in 1988 to $110M by 1992. (Able Telecommunications Inc., 56 Coming Avenue, Milpitas, CA 95035, USA. Tel: (408) 945 1484) []

OSI Products: 2nd report HMSO Books, UK (1988) £42, ISBN 0 11 514632 6 This publication is the result of a joint survey by the IT Standards unit of the DTI and the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) of HM Treasury, and is effectively the 2nd edition of a similar report previously published in December 1986I. It consists of 25 sections. The first outlines the UK Government's OSI policy and gives a very useful summary of OSI and related standards, referring briefly to GOSIP, the Government's procurement specification 2. It also summarizes the results of the survey. The bulk of the report consists of the OSI implementation plans and products of 24 of the major supplier companies, presented in some detail. Each section consists of three

chapters: introduction and management summary; communications products and plans; and analysis and comment. Despite the inevitability that specific product information will date quickly, this is nevertheless a valuable and timely publication.

David Hutchison University of Lancaster UK 1 IT in the Civil Service Series OSl -CCTA's Expectations and Suppliers' Implementations No 15 HMSO (December 1986) 2 GOSIP, UK Government OSI Profile, Version 3.0, CCTA, HM Treasury (January 1988)

Optimism for PC market prospects MSI Database, UK (1988)£45,26 pp In 1987 the personal computer (PC) market is believed to have grown by a further 10% to reach a level of £972 M. Some 60% of the market is accounted for by micro computers destined for office applications, with the remainder of the market accounted for by home computers. These are just two of the findings of a recent report on the UK market and industry. One of the most exciting areas of development in the PC sector is currently that of portable units. Growth rates of 33% are reported for 1987 as sales reached 40 000 units. Sales of business-based micro

computers continues to grow, though the rate of that growth is seen to have declined over the last few years. Nonetheless, 1987 witnessed 15% volume growth in the sector, and while this is well down on the significant 65% seen in 1985, the growth is still substantial. The report remains optimistic about market prospects, though it is clear that the price cutting of 1987 has had a damaging effect on the profitability of the industry. (Marketing Strategies for Industry (UIO Ltd., 32 Mill Green Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 4HY, UK. Tel: 01-640 6621, Telex: 27950 ref 1153) I-1

computer communications