EMEA thin-client market boosted by XP effect in H1

IDC warns of rollbacks in 2015 despite high growth so far this year

The thin-client market in EMEA enjoyed a second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in Q2 2014 as the migration away from Windows XP gave sales a shot in the arm.

IDC data finds that thin-client shipments across EMEA grew 15.3 per cent annually in Q2 to about 476,500 units. Total revenue rose at an even quicker rate, increasing by 22.2 per cent to $169.65m (£105.13m). The analyst claims this reflects customer demand for more powerful technology and the increasing popularity of all-in-one machines, which now account for 4.5 per cent of total shipments.

The high growth enjoyed by the market so far in 2014 may start to wane by the end of the year as the XP factor wears off, predicted IDC senior research analyst Oleg Sidorkin.

"It is worth noting that the influence of the migration from expired Windows XP, as a market driver for PC and thin-client renewals, will weaken by the end of 2014. As a result, thin-client growth will ease off as well," he explained. "In H1 2015, EMEA thin-client shipments could post a marginal decline, unless economic growth across Europe stabilises sufficiently to become a strong market driver."

Not all markets across EMEA have been buoyant in the first half of 2014, with the economic and political situation in Russia and Ukraine negatively affecting sales in the central and eastern Europe (CEE) region. Russia is forecast to account for 52.5 per cent of shipments across the year, down from a high of 72 per cent two years ago. Total units shipped throughout the CEE region this year are projected to show a 21.1 per cent decline.