IDC's Pricing Evaluation Service: Imaging/Output product provides comprehensive analysis of the tactical pricing, competitive positioning, and overall strategic direction of major vendors in the imaging/output market. The product covers printers, digital cameras, multifunction peripherals (MFPs), scanners, and ink and toner supplies. Clients can access real-time pricing, promotions, and specifications through IDC's Pricing eValuator Web site, acquiring the information necessary to make critical business decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

This product covers the following segments of the imaging/output market:

• Laser printers
• Inkjet printers
• Multifunction devices
• Dot matrix and line matrix printers
• Scanners
• Digital cameras
• Consumables/ink and toner supplies
• Printer accessories

Throughout the year, this product will address the following topics:

• Impact of pricing on emerging distribution channels
• Declining reseller and vendor margins
• Opportunities in a maturing market
• Winners and losers in the protracted price war
• Multiple sources of components fueling a supplier price war
• Vendor pricing profiles
• Emerging pricing trends in corporate procurement

Our research addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. Which vendors are in the price leadership position by segment?
2. What are the vendors' prices for their best distributors by model?
3. Are there seasonal pricing trends, and during what periods do they occur?
4. How do vendors price out consumables, and is this a margin opportunity?
5. How has the multifunction market evolved in terms of price range, product, and life cycle?

IDC's Pricing Evaluation Service: Imaging/Output product analyzes the product strategies, competitive positioning, financial viability, and overall strategic direction of major providers in the imaging/output market in the United States, Canada, most European countries, and many countries in Asia. Companies tracked include Brother, Canon, Epson, HP, Lexmark, OKI Printing Solutions, Panasonic, Ricoh, Samsung, TallyGenicom, and Xerox.

Internet access to data and analysis tools is provided via IDC's Pricing eValuator Web site. The tools and services available to clients include the following:

• Price and specifications database includes list-, street-, eretailer-, Web-, and distributor-level pricing, as well as specifications, historical pricing, and product availability information.
• eRetailer pricing database captures pricing for more than 3,000 systems as reported by more than 100 individual retailers, allowing for easy comparison between ecommerce, vendor Web, and distributor pricing.
• Product comparison builder tool matches clients' products with peer products from competitors and updates pricing and differences on a daily basis.
• Promotions database includes detailed information on current promotions and rebates. Full promotion descriptions, pricing, and valid offer dates are included.
• Quick-response IDC updates detail price and promotion changes and new product announcements as they happen, emphasizing fast delivery of pricing data so clients can react rapidly.
• Custom consulting is available for special projects.