Spending On Software That Uses CORBA, OLE or OpenDoc Standards To Reach $80B By The Year 2000 Component Software Standards Are Challenged By Sun's Java

Business Wire, Dec 7, 1995

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1995-- Worldwide, users will spend $16 billion in 1995 on software that supports a component software standard, such as OLE or CORBA.

This market will grow at 37% to $78 billion in the year 2000. Expenditures by programmers in the U.S. for software components are expected to grow from $170 million to $470 million at a 23% (CAGR) from 1995 to 2000. The worldwide programmer market for software components will grow faster at 35% from $210 million in 1995 to $960 million in 2000.

Widely used by software developers, software components are the foundation of maintainable applications and systems. A niche market for Microsoft's Visual Basic components is evolving into a mainstream market for OLE-based components. The market for software components has taken decades to emerge, but explosive growth in complex distributed systems now fuels demand.

Standards battles are being fought over component integration and interoperability. At its simplest, Microsoft and its allies are challenging major computer industry players. The integration battle is being waged between OLE from Microsoft and OpenDoc from CI Labs, driven by Apple and IBM. The interoperability battle is being waged by the energetic Object Management Group with its CORBA standard and Microsoft with COM.

Angela Hey, INPUT's Client/Server Program Manager, says "Systems architects with OLE, OpenDoc and CORBA are creating component software standards, but in the end system builders using Sun's Java Internet-based language may fuel a real market for distributed software components." The strategies, strengths and weaknesses of 24 vendors are analyzed.

INPUT's latest report, Component Software: ORBs, OLE and OpenDoc, is intended for market analysts, strategic planners, IS managers, product marketing staff and technology investors. Vendors covered include Antares Alliance Group, Apple, AT&T GIS, CenterLine, Digital Equipment, Expersoft, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM, ICL, I-Kinetics, Iona Technologies, Micro Focus, Microsoft, NetLinks, NeXT, Novell, Oracle, ParcPlace-Digitalk, PostModern Computing, SunSoft, Teknekron, Texas Instruments and Visual Edge.

The Component Software: ORBs, OLE and OpenDoc report is from INPUT's Client/Server Software Program. Since 1974, INPUT has advised computer industry leaders on trends in computer software and services.

It is available from INPUT at 1881 Landings Drive, Mountain View, California 94043. To obtain a copy please call Mark Drisko on 415-528-6318. INPUT is a worldwide IT intelligence and consulting firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Tokyo, Frankfurt and Mountain View, CA.

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Note to Editors: An editorial review copy of this report's Executive Overview is available to bonafide members of the press on request. For more information please contact Mark Drisko at INPUT, (415) 528-6318; fax (415) 961-8287;

CONTACT: INPUT

Mark Drisko,415/528-6318