Yankee Group Survey Finds 3Com, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard and IBM are the Networking Equipment Vendors of Choice for Small, Entrepreneurial Businesses

Business Wire, May 26, 1999

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 1999--

A recent survey conducted by the Yankee Group found that when it comes to purchasing networking equipment 3-Com, Cisco, HP, and IBM were the most frequent choice among small, entrepreneurial firms.

"These results come as no surprise," said Eric Klein, a small business technology analyst at the Yankee Group. "3Com, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM have all spent a lot of time and effort establishing their brand in this important market segment."

The Yankee Group survey of small (20-99 employees) and very small (2-19 employees) companies found that 3Com was cited by 22% of small and 13% of very small companies. Cisco was mentioned by 14% of small and 4% of the very small businesses. Hewlett-Packard garnered 14% of small and 11% of the very small business respondents, while IBM captured 11% of small and 16% of very small businesses.

As the opportunity to sell networking equipment to large companies has become ferociously competitive, many vendors have targeted the critically important small business sector. "This group of companies comprises nearly 98% of all businesses in the United States and accounts for 24% of all technology spending today," said Michael Lauricella, the Yankee Group's small business technology forecaster.

The comprehensive results of the survey, which covers computer, networking and Internet issues among small and medium businesses are available directly from the Yankee Group.

About The Yankee Group

Established in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970, the Yankee Group (a subsidiary of Primark Corporation) is an internationally recognized leader in strategic planning, technology forecasting, and market research.

The Yankee Group focuses its research on communications and computing systems for business and consumer uses. Industry-specific services also focus on key verticals such as energy, media, and entertainment. Leveraging this core research, the Yankee Group partners with its clients as they develop business initiatives based on a critical assessment of markets and requirements. With more than 800 clients worldwide, the Yankee Group employs a highly interactive relationship to continuously deliver actionable insight and analysis.

Primark Corporation (NYSE/PSE:PMK) is a global information services organization headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Primark provides financial, economic, and market research information services to the financial, corporate, and government markets. Additional information is available at http://www.primark.com.