Disk storage sales were up in 2010

GLOBAL REVENUE for the disk storage systems market was up considerably in 2010 thanks to strong fourth quarter results, according to market research firm IDC.

Revenue for the external disk market was $6.1 billion for the fourth quarter, up 16.2 per cent on 2009, while total disk market revenue was even higher at $8.3 billion, an increase of 14.3 per cent over the same period the year before.

High demand for network storage was the main contributing factor to this growth, showing an increase of 21.7 per cent for the fourth quarter and 25.7 per cent for the entire year.

Disk storage capacity also increased across the board, reaching a total of 5,127 petabytes, a massive 55.7 per cent increase from 2009.

EMC continued to rule the roost in the external disk storage market for 2010, bringing in fourth quarter revenue of $1.58 billion, a 26.3 per cent increase on 2009. It also increased its market share from 23.9 per cent to 26 per cent.

The company was bumped into second position when total disk storage revenue is considered, with HP bringing in $1.58 billion for the fourth quarter, a 10.2 per cent jump on 2009. HP was in third place for external disk storage, however, earning $704 million, a 9.8 per cent increase.

IBM was also doing well, with fourth quarter revenue for external disk storage of $996 million, a 12 per cent increase on 2009. Big Blue's total disk storage revenue was even higher at $1.52 billion, an increase of 8.7 per cent. µ