April 21, 2008 14:13 ET

Exponential Growth of Enterprise Data Causing Increased Adoption of WAN Data Compression and Acceleration Technologies - New Research From TheInfoPro

Growth in Data and Requisite Storage Needs Are Key Drivers for Increase in Networking Spending

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - April 21, 2008) - TheInfoPro (TIP), an independent research network and leading supplier of market intelligence for the Information Technology (IT) industry, today announced that over 36% of Fortune 1000 (F1000) and Midsize Enterprise (MSE) organizations consider data growth and storage requirements a top business need driving the growth of the networking technologies market -- doubling the number of citations it received approximately six months ago in Wave 3 of the Networking Study.

To view a rich media presentation of findings, visit: http://www.brainshark.com/theinfopro/Preview_1_Networking_Wave_4

Key Findings on WAN Data Compression and Acceleration Technologies:

--  WAN Data Compression and Acceleration Hardware has overtaken 10 Gbps
    Ethernet to assume the #1 spot on the Wave 4 Data Networking Infrastructure
    Technology Heat Index®, moving up from the #3 spot in Wave 3.  The Heat
    Index gauges the immediacy of user needs and planned spending for each
    technology.
--  Twenty-eight percent (28%) of enterprises have WAN Data Compression
    and Acceleration technologies in pilot or near-term plan.
--  Nearly 40% of those interviewed indicated that it was very likely that
    they would employ WAN optimization solutions for their network in the next
    12 months, up from 30% last wave.
    

Key Findings on WAN Data Compression and Acceleration Providers:

--  The shortlist of providers continues to be led by Cisco and Riverbed,
    with in use and in plan citations.  With the in plan leader and in use
    leader alternating between the F1000 and MSE organizations
--  Other providers mentioned by F1000 and MSE organizations during the
    study include: Expand Networks, Juniper, F5 Networks, IBM, HP, Packeteer,
    NetApp, Crescendo Networks, Aspera, Blue Coat, Silver Peak, Stampede, and
    Citrix.
    

"The sheer volume of data that now needs to be stored, and the increase in the data that is eligible to be moved, along with the new ways of being able to move this data, have led to the huge growth in the implementation of a variety of networking technologies," says Bill Trussell, Managing Director of Networking research for TheInfoPro. "This increase was seen most prominently through the growth in spending and implementation of WAN Data Compression and Acceleration technologies, as organizations of all sizes find this technology to be economically beneficial, in addition to providing tangible end user performance enhancements for applications of all types."

About The Study

Over 130 one-on-one hour-long interviews were conducted with F1000 and MSE end users for the Wave 4 Networking Study, providing commentary and insight on their Networking adoption plans, management strategies, and vendor performance. TIP repeats this structured interview process in six-month intervals -- "waves" -- for the sectors of investigation, providing unmatched historical reference, trend analysis, and pattern recognition.

Networking Technology providers that were mentioned throughout the study include: 3COM, Accel Net, ADTRAN, AeroScout, Affiliated Computer Services, AirTight Networks, AirWave, Alcatel-Lucent, Alvarion, American Fiber Systems, ANDA Networks, Apple, Aspera, AT&T, Avocent, Belgravium, Belkin, Bell Canada, Blue Coat, Bluesocket, Buckeye TeleSystem, Cablevision Systems, Call One, CenturyTel, Check Point, Chelsio, China Telecom, Ciena, Cisco, Citizens Communications, Cogent, COLT Telecom, Comcast Coyote Point, Crescendo Networks, Cywest, Delatcom, D-Link, eircom, EMC, Enterasys, Expand Networks, Extreme Networks, F5 Networks, Force10, Fortinet, Fotris Corporation, Foundry Networks, Frontier Systems, GSA Networx, HP, IBM, IDC Global, Infinera, Interactive Intelligence, Internap, IntuitiveLabs, Juniper, KPN International, Lancope, Level 3, LightRiver, Lightspeed Systems, MASERGY, Microsoft, Mitel, Motorola, MOVAS, MRV Communications, NetApp, NetQoS, Nevis Networks, Nortel, NTT, Packeteer, PAETEC, PCCW, Positive Networks, Proxim Wireless, Radware, Riverbed, SecurActive, Secure Computing, ShorTel, Siemens, Sourcefire, Stampede, Stoneware, Swisscom, Symantec, TAZZ Networks, Telenor, TelePacific Communications, TIBCO, Time Warner, Trapeze Networks, Vanco, XO Communications, Xythos, Yipes, Zhone Technologies

Key technologies covered in the study include: WAN Data Compression and Acceleration, 10 Gbps Ethernet Backbone or Core, VPNs -- based on SSL, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), 802.11a/b/g Wireless Networks, Ethernet LAN Switching Hardware, Internet VPN (LAN to LAN), Wide Area File Services (WAFS), Multicast, 10 Gbps Ethernet Server Connectivity, Multiport / Multilink Trunking, Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Hardware, IP Version 6 (IPv6), Ultra-high Speed Networking (40 Gbps / 100 Gbps).

About TheInfoPro

TheInfoPro (TIP) is the only independent research network for the Information Technology (IT) industry. Created in 2002 by alumni of Gartner, EMC, Giga, and Bell Labs, TIP investigates key IT sectors -- Networking, Information Security, Servers, Storage, and Sourcing -- via a comprehensive in-depth interview process. Through a peer network of over 1800 of the world's largest buyers and users of IT -- including Citigroup, FedEx, McGraw-Hill, MasterCard, and Harvard University -- TIP delivers detailed budget, vendor performance and technology roadmap data without spin or bias. Known as the voice of the customer, TIP helps IT professionals, technology providers, and institutional investors make sound decisions on technologies, vendor relationships and investments. To learn more, visit www.theinfopro.net or call 1-212-672-0010