U.S. Digital Copier/Printer Sales Jumped Forward in 1998, Accounting for $1.3 Billion, According to GartnerGroup's Dataquest
Report Examines Current Trends for Monochrome Copier/Printers in the Office
San Jose, Calif., June 9, 1999—Shipments of digital copiers equipped to handle computer printing increased 166 percent in 1998, with end-user spending of $1.3 billion, according to Dataquest Inc., a unit of Gartner Group, Inc. (NYSE).
Dataquest estimates that in 1998 there were a total of 387,000 monochrome digital copiers sold in the United States. Of those, 284,000 were in Segments 1 through 4 and designed for general office use with operating speeds ranging from 12 cpm to 69 cpm. By completing a detailed model-level analysis of these 284,000 digital copiers, Dataquest estimates that 88,000 were installed with print controllers and being used as copier/printers.
"Looking at these general office digital copiers, only one in three devices were sold with the printer capabilities," said Andrew Johnson, principal analyst for Dataquest's Facsimile and Multifunctional Products North America program. "This connect rate is about the same as in 1997, but the unit shipments of the copier/printer configuration more than doubled, swept up by strong digital copier shipments."
Canon led the sales race for unit shipments in 1998 in Segments 1 through 4, with 21 percent market share. However, Xerox was the No. 1 vendor based on revenue in these segments with about 22 percent market share.
"The market is crowded with all the top copier vendors pushing multiple solutions – most are on their second- and third-generation products. Many of the new products are higher-speed and higher-priced units that will help boost revenue in 1999, if vendors can deliver the print controllers in a timely manner," Mr. Johnson said.
In the race for unit shipments between printers and copiers, copiers are still in second place. As a point of reference, 213,000 printers were shipped in the United States in the speed range of 21 to 50 ppm. "It's a pretty fair statement to say that companies were not rushing toward copier/printers to handle all their document output needs in 1998. It was more like a slow stroll," said Mr. Johnson. The competition between copier and printer vendors is moving to a new level in 1999, with product distribution and network printer management software being two key issues that will determine leadership position.
Additional information about the copier/printer market is available in the Dataquest Perspective "Digital Copier/Printer Market Share for 1998." This document includes unit shipment and end-user spending data for all vendors and a summary of product offerings and explains key business issues.
This report is part of Dataquest's Facsimile and Multifunctional Products North America program. As copier, printer, scanner, and fax technologies are integrated into new devices, this program explains where opportunities and threats lie for manufacturers of distinct document management systems. Additional information on this program is available on Dataquest's Web site at http://www.dataquest.com/dq/static/offer/programs/fmfpnads19981130.html.
To purchase the report or subscribe to this program, please call 800-419-DATA or 408-468-8009. More information about Dataquest's programs, descriptions of recent research reports, and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.dataquest.com.
GartnerGroup's Dataquest is the recognized leader in providing the high-technology and financial communities with market intelligence for the semiconductor, computer systems and peripherals, communications, document management, software, and services sectors of the global information technology industry.
As the world's leading authority on IT, GartnerGroup provides clients with a wide range of products and services in the areas of IT advisory services, measurement, research, decision support, analysis, and consulting. Founded in 1979, with headquarters in Stamford, Conn., GartnerGroup is at the center of a global community serving Fortune 1000 clients from 80 locations worldwide. Additional information about the company is available on the Internet at www.gartner.com.
CONTACT:
Tom McCall
+1-408-468-8312
tom.mccall@gartner.com