IDC and CONTEXT Enter Into Agreement to Provide European Monthly PC Tracker Service

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Data Corporation (IDC) and CONTEXT today announced an agreement to produce a monthly PC and Tablet Tracker service for Europe to complement IDC's Quarterly PC and Tablet Trackers. Using the extensive research capabilities of both companies, the IDC CONTEXT Monthly PC Tracker will produce monthly updates on manufacturer shipments into the major European markets. Combining IDC's view of the market, which utilizes supply side, customer demand, and financial data, with CONTEXT's wide channel sales coverage will produce the most accurate view on shipments available today, and at a frequency of reporting that keeps pace with rapid market changes.

“We look forward to working with CONTEXT and to developing a partnership for the long term for the benefit of all our customers.”

"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with IDC in this unique venture," commented CONTEXT's co-founder Jeremy Davies. "This cooperation between our two companies will provide vendors and all who need accurate and up-to-date information on Europe's PC markets with a new service that has never been available before."

"Combining the extensive channel expertise that is CONTEXT's strength with IDC's premier position in shipments tracking will provide our customers with a new service that will significantly enhance their ability to analyse the PC and Tablet markets," said Philippe de Marcillac, Executive Vice President for International Business Units at IDC. "We look forward to working with CONTEXT and to developing a partnership for the long term for the benefit of all our customers."

The IDC CONTEXT Monthly PC Tracker will be available in the fourth quarter of 2012, and initially cover Europe's largest PC markets: Germany, France, and the UK. Several other European countries will be added in subsequent quarters.

About IDC Trackers

IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, vendor share and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly and monthly basis. IDC Tracker data is used to support critical business planning, management, and investment decisions. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly excel deliverables and on-line query tools. With the largest global analyst team in the industry, IDC delivers tracker data on over 100 countries across the globe.

For more information about IDC's Europe, Middle East, and Africa Quarterly PC Tracker, please contact Karine Paoli at [e-mail].

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 48 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

About CONTEXT

Headquartered in London with over 130 staff in 12 countries, CONTEXT specializes in tracking technology sales and pricing across the globe. With real-time data captured from a wide range of channel sources including exclusive access to Global Technology Distribution Council members (www.gtdc.org), the $3 billion of sales processed each week in Europe provides the most accurate channel market information available today across a range of business and consumer technology products. CONTEXT reports and services enable our customers to assess their business operations in the light of actual sell-out figures, and make business-critical decisions based on hard data. Follow us on Twitter: @contextworld.com or visit our website: www.contextworld.com.