Enterprises spend more than $4 billion annually on middleware used to run their most mission-critical applications. As enterprises build new social and mobile applications, they’re moving to new platform-as-a-service offerings. This market is facing disruption as start-ups, new entrants by large vendors, and new cloud offerings from current leaders are competing for market position in the cloud. Choices are far more complex, and vendors need to make sure they are planning, marketing, and selling more effectively than their competition. IDC's BuyerPulse® Analysis: Enterprise Application Platforms and Platform as a Service (PaaS) looks at the evolving needs of buyers as they implement products and services that may be on-premise, in the cloud, or hybrid. This program helps vendors with market and product planning, aligning their products with customer needs, and gaining a competitive understanding of what is being implemented and what factors into buyer decisions.

• Forecasts comparing application server middleware and PaaS
• User requirements for evolving on-premise application platforms and private and public PaaS
• Evaluation of vendor business models, architectures, and product and service capabilities
• Case studies with in-depth looks at buyer decisions and implementation strengths and challenges

• IDC MarketScape: Platform as a Service
• Detailed Competitive Analysis
• Buying Pattern Research and Analysis
• Case Studies
• Vendor Profiles and Risk Assessments
• Vendor Shares and Forecasts
• Annual Analysis of Purchasing Trends

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 will PaaS vendors differentiate in the face of intense competition?
2. What are customers looking for when they make application platform versus PaaS purchasing decisions?
3. How is PaaS evolving as the market evolves from emerging to reach a level of maturity?

Adobe, Amazon, Appian, Appirio, Apple, Caspio, Fujitsu, GigaSpaces, Google, Hitachi, HP, IBM, Information Builders Inc., Intalio, Integrify, Intuit, Lawson Software, LongJump, Micro Focus, Microsoft, NEC, NetSuite, Novell, Oracle, PrismTech, Progress Software Corp., Prolifics, Red Hat, salesforce.com, SAP, Siemens, Software AG, TIBCO Software Inc., Unisys, VMware, and Zoho.

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.