IDC's European Small and Medium Business Markets service analyzes ICT buying trends and patterns across four company sizes and 16 verticals in 16 Western European countries. Our analysts provide insight into when and where the most active small and medium business (SMB) segments are likely to generate IT and telecoms business growth, with a focus on key IT products, services, and solutions, as well as emerging technologies such as cloud computing, social media, and mobility.

• Enterprise applications
• New technologies
• Hardware, software, and services
• Cloud and software as a service (SaaS)
• Social media
• The role of SMBs in the European economy
• The European SMB IT opportunity
• Levels of IT sophistication among SMBs
• IT spending forecast by company size
• Segmentation of the SMB market based on IT solution adoption patterns
• Segmentation of the SMB market based on mobility solutions
• SMB attitudes toward new technologies
• SMB technology purchase processes
• Vertical offerings for SMBs
• IT supplier push to reach SMBs

• Western European SMB IT Spending Forecast, 2013–2017
• IT Security in Western European SMBs
• Infrastructure Technologies in Western European SMBs
• IS Budget Dynamics, Channel Selection, and Vendor Satisfaction
• Western European SMB Market Structure and Performance Indicators
• Clustering SMBs in Western Europe
• Quarterly Market Watch and Confidence Outlook newsletters

In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct research on specific topics or emerging market segments via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.

1. How do SMB technology opportunities vary by country and company size?
2. What are the key technologies and applications used by European SMBs and what solutions will change the way SMBs do business over the next 12 months?
3. What are the most viable strategies for IT and telecoms vendors targeting SMBs in Europe?
4. How interested are SMBs in new technologies such as cloud, social media, and mobile solutions?
5. What drives SMB technology investment and which verticals are the most active IT investors?

IDC's European Small and Medium Business Markets service examines how ICT providers are positioning themselves to compete in the European SMB market. This service reviews strategies, market positioning, and future direction of several providers in the European SMB market across all technology areas, including:

Apple, BT, Capgemini, Cisco, Dell, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, Fujitsu Siemens, HP, IBM, Infor, McAfee,Microsoft, Novell, Oracle, Salesforce.com, SAP, Symantec, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, and VMware.

For IT suppliers or IT buyers doing business planning and budgeting, sales and marketing, or performance measurement, we have the custom offerings to optimize your success at every stage of your business. Our data- and content-driven approach helps you make better decisions, drive more effective marketing programs, and effectively measure your success - resulting in a greater return on your investment.

Whether you are a technology buyer or provider, IDC Insights' research translates today's global end-user requirements and trends into business opportunities for your organization. With dedicated businesses targeting energy, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail, IDC provides unmatched integration of global technology and vertical industry expertise to deliver industry-specific customer intelligence that gives clients a powerful business advantage.

Connect and engage with a global network of business and IT professionals in the first-of-its-kind end-user community at http://idc-insights-community.com.