Report: 6% of SMB desktops will run Linux by 2008

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Jan. 12, 2005

Linux desktop shipments to small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) will increase at 39 percent compounded annually between now and 2008, at which time six percent of all SMB desktop-PCs will be running Linux, according to a research finding from AMI-Partners Inc. Additionally, by 2008, 4.2 percent of all "PC-owning" SMBs will have adopted Linux desktops (see chart below), according to the report.

World-wide SMB Linux Desktop Adoption Forecast, 2003-2008
Percent of PC-Owning SMBs Having Linux Desktops
(Click above image to enlarge)
(Source: AMI-Partners Inc.; used with permission)

Senior Vice President Abhijeet Rane says the firm's recent survey findings suggest that Linux is gaining traction among SMBs. "Increasing support by brand-name vendors and expanded awareness among SMBs are helping drive adoption of Linux in this market," Rane said. "Asian and European SMBs in particular are very interested in Linux and open source applications because of the cost benefits."

AMI-Partners lists the following issues as key contributors to the growing interest in Linux and other open source software among SMBs worldwide:

Increasing cost of IT -- SMBs are ever more reliant on increasingly expensive IT products and services for managing their businesses. This expanded investment has resulted in higher expenditures, leading SMBs to seek free open source alternatives.
Open standards and freedom from vendor lock-in -- Open source software generally adheres to standards better than proprietary software, reducing reliance on vendor-specified file formats.
Government Policies -- open endorsement by Asian and European governments is giving credibility to Linux and open source.
Blue Chip support -- products and support available from brand-name vendors such as IBM, HP, and Novell lend credibility and increase confidence among SMBs.

AMI-Partners says its "Worldwide SMB Linux Forecast" is based on a survey of SMBs in the US, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil, and Mexico.

Abhijeet Rane will discuss the survey and related findings in a webcast on January 26 at 1:00 PM EST. Further information about the webcast and the report is available by email and from the company's website. Rane will also be giving a talk at the Desktop Linux Summit in San Diego next month.

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