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HP, IBM Vying for No1 Spot on EMEA Server Market

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Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) and the International Business Machines Corporation (commonly referred as IBM) are in a battle for the soul of server market in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Result of overall server market standings by vendor released by the International Data Corporation shows that HP held the number one spot in 2Q13, despite annual revenue declines of 13.2% due to weaker demand for x86-based ProLiant servers, which were challenged by competitive pricing pressure and continued weakness in Itanium-based Integrity server revenue.

On the other hand, IBM held the number two spot with a 27.8% share for the quarter, with a slight factory revenue decrease of 1.3% compared with 2Q12.

Demand for IBM’s System z systems grew 59.6% annually, although the System x family generated more revenue for the vendor.

Meanwhile, IDC’s EMEA Server Tracker indicated that factory revenue in the EMEA server market reached $2.9 billion in the second quarter of 2013, a decrease of 3.3% when compared with the same quarter of 2012.

In euro terms, revenue reached €2.2 billion, a decrease of 4.9%. Shipments reached 483,000 units, an annual decline of 4.7%. 2Q13 was the seventh consecutive quarter since 4Q11 of annual revenue declines in EMEA, but it must be noted that quarterly server sales grew 6.8% in dollars and 8.0% in euros.

EMEA performance therefore compared favorably to the overall worldwide server market, which saw revenue declines of 6.2%.

x86 server revenue reached $2.1 billion, a decline of 4.5% year on year in 2Q13, a sharper decline than in the previous quarter, when revenue was down 1.5% annually.

Non-x86 server revenue was virtually flat, down just 0.1% annually, in stark contrast with the 34.8% yearly decline during the first quarter of 2013. x86 server sales reached 71.3% of the total in EMEA, down from 80.4% in the previous quarter, when industry standard servers reached the highest market share ever recorded by IDC.

Volume and midrange servers were down 6.4% and 5.6% year on year respectively, while sales of high-end systems increased 7.5% in the same period.

Server class performance was consistent with the direction the market took this quarter, driven by a temporary spike in mainframe refreshes.

“With new products and refreshes coming up in 4Q13, x86 server spending has proceeded at a slower pace in the quarter, especially in the volume SMB sector,” said Giorgio Nebuloni, research manager, Enterprise Server Group, IDC EMEA.

“Vendors are battling for share in that part of the market — typically distribution-driven — as new entrants continue applying pressure on established players. Stabilization and some growth in x86 spending is expected for 2014, when local cloud service projects will combine with broader refreshes and a less negative macroeconomic scenario.”

 “Mainframe performance enjoyed quite an uptick this quarter, driven by strong demand in Western Europe, particularly the U.K., France, and Germany, as well as pockets in other countries of EMEA, such as South Africa and Poland,” said Beatriz Valle, senior research analyst, Enterprise Server Group, IDC EMEA.

“This trend was driven by demand for refreshes on previous-generation mainframes. With the release of the zEC12 in 3Q12, focusing on security and analytics, IBM introduced important updates to keep the platform relevant. Mainframes are increasingly being deployed on Linux operating systems and high-availability needs remain a primary market engine in some industries.”

 On CEMA highlights, “Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa [CEMA] combined continued to record negative growth. Server revenue reached $721.97 million, declining as much as 10.5% year on year in 2Q13 with both x86 and non-x86 servers seeing contraction,” said Jiri Helebrand, research manager, IDC CEMA.

“The Central and Eastern Europe [CEE] subregion was down 20.4% to $363.42 million. Continued weakness in the Russian market is weighing heavily on the CEE region, which saw the weakest performance over the past three years. An increase in demand was seen in Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary thanks to several large upgrades of existing server infrastructure in the financial sector.

 “The Middle East and Africa [MEA] subregion showed resilience despite the geopolitical tension, and server sales increased 2.3% year on year to $358.54 million. A focus on technological transformation and improving IT infrastructure is supporting server demand in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan, which are all growing at double-digit rates. The Turkish server market also grew in double digits, benefiting from strong demand in the government and financial sectors.”

 Other overall server market standings by vendor highlighted that

Dell maintained third position and was the only vendor in the top 5 to see revenue increases, with sales growing 7.9% year on year and a 1.5 percentage point increase in market share year on year, helped by strong demand from its density optimized datacenter solutions business.

Oracle was in fourth place, with revenue flat year on year, after benefiting from growth in sales of the Engineered Systems family as well as refreshes on its SPARC Enterprise line.

And Fujitsu was in fifth place, with a decline of 6.1% annually, and enjoying good performance of its BS2000/OSD family of mainframes, whose sales were up 11.2% year on year.

Etisalat Partners Brimass on Leadership Seminar for SMEs
Etisalat in partnership with Brimass Limited hosted a section of entrepreneurs, executives, business owners and other decision makers to an interactive leadership seminar with Mr. Brian Tracy, Leadership Expert and Business Coach

According to the company, ‘this is a way of reiterating its support for the growth of emerging businesses as well as providing businesses with the right platform to communicate ideas and grow their business enterprise’.

The event tagged, “The Remarkable Leaders’ Conclave with Brian Tracy” with the theme The Making of Innovative Leaders: Winning Leadership Strategies for Building World Class Organizations and Societies, was designed to expose delegates to Tracy’s best productivity secrets to help them maximize their leadership positions and ultimately produce excellent results in their businesses and other spheres of life.

The three part seminar which started with the Entrepreneurs’ Breakfast Conclave, followed by the Executives’ Lunch Conclave and climaxed with an exclusive Executives’ Dinner, delivered tips and keys for growing a successful business as well as the role of management in building effective leaders.

During his teaching on the seven responsibilities of a leader, the top selling author of over 45 books said that an effective leader is one who can provide customer satisfaction and this can happen by offering innovative products and services.

He added that businesses should continually seek better ways to acquire and keep their customers.

Reputed for its role in bringing innovative offerings in the telecommunications sector in the country, Bidemi Ladipo, Etisalat Nigeria’s head, Business Segment, said the platform was one of many ways Etisalat is showing its commitment to the growth of small and medium scaled businesses who require necessary information to succeed in their various industries.

“As a company we pride ourselves in innovation and building businesses, an attribute similar to Brian Tracy. We have created a number of products that address the communication needs of these emerging businesses of note is the Easybusiness, a pre-paid package which gives business owners and their customers and partners an effective communication experience at cost effective rates”.

Speaking further, Ladipo said that Etisalat in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) organizes a quarterly business networking meeting known as Market Access which has held in major cities in Nigeria.

“We also are involved in the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) together with the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University, the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators. As the fourth entrant to the Nigerian telecoms market, we have grown, accruing over 15 million subscribers in just about five years in operation so we are passionate about connecting entrepreneurs, small and medium scaled with businesses with the resources they need to grow and succeed”, he said.
Commenting on the workshop, Stephen Ojji, chief operating officer of Brimass Limited, said the essence of bringing Brian Tracy was to create sustainable change in leadership and innovation in doing business especially for SMEs as well as senior management and executives of different organizations. 

He said the company decided to take the event to a larger scale due to sponsorship from business minded companies like Etisalat who gave them the required mileage that made the event a success.


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Equinix Launches LG2.3 Data Centre in Nigeria

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Equinix officials at the launch
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Equinix, global digital infrastructure company, has launched a cutting-edge LG2.3 data centre in Lagos aimed at fueling Nigeria’s booming tech scene.

Equinix Launches LG2.3 Data Centre in Nigeria

Equinix officials at the launch

The data centre is designed to provide businesses with secure, reliable, and high-performance colocation and interconnection services, crucial for supporting the increasing demand for digital services across the region.

Nestled in the bustling Lekki Free Zone, LG2.3 is packed with the latest tech, offering businesses the secure and lightning-fast connections they crave. Think of it as the engine room for Nigeria’s online world, designed to handle the explosive growth of digital services.

The launch featured Bruce Owen, president, Equinix’s EMEA, who cut the ribbon to open the data centre.

“Nigeria is our focus,” Owen declared, emphasizing Equinix’s dedication to powering the nation’s digital growth. “The energy here is incredible, and we’re excited to be part of it.”

On his part, Wole Abu, managing director, Equinix’s West Africa, echoed this sentiment highlighting the increasing global demand for digital infrastructure.

“Africa is on the cusp of a digital explosion, and we’re here to support that growth,” he said.

Nigeria’s digital adoption is skyrocketing, driven by a young, tech-savvy population. Businesses are racing to embrace online platforms, and LG2.3 is perfectly positioned to meet their needs.

This investment is set to create a ripple effect, boosting the economy, creating jobs, and fostering innovation.

LG2.3 is set to be a beacon for Africa’s tech potential.

Equinix’s confidence in the continent aims to attract more global players, turning Africa into a digital powerhouse.

This data centre will act as a vital connection hub, empowering businesses to connect and collaborate, bridging the digital divide.

Equinix’s vision extends beyond Nigeria, with plans to expand across Africa.

strategic move reflects their commitment to building a connected and thriving digital ecosystem.

The success of LG2.3 is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships, with the Nigerian government playing a crucial role in attracting investment.

As Nigeria marches towards a digital future, Equinix’s LG2.3 data centre will be a key driver of progress. It’s a powerful symbol of Nigeria’s digital ambition and a catalyst for Africa’s tech revolution.

 

 


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Microsoft Marks 50th Anniversary with Major Copilot AI Update

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Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a major leap forward into artificial intelligence, unveiling significant updates to its AI assistant, Copilot.

Microsoft Marks 50th Anniversary with Major Copilot AI Update

The announcement was made on April 4, 2025, at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, marking a milestone for both Microsoft and the AI industry.

As the tech giant celebrates its golden anniversary, the company is setting its sights firmly on the future, particularly with its AI-driven tools.

Microsoft’s Copilot, which has been integrated into various software tools across its ecosystem, has now received a significant upgrade.

The new features aim to make the Copilot assistant more intelligent, personalised, and proactive, which positions Microsoft as a serious competitor in the AI space against other industry leaders such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.

Mustafa Suleyman, head of Microsoft’s AI division, expressed the company’s ambition, saying, “We envision Copilot not just as an assistant, but as a long-term AI companion, one that can learn, adapt, and evolve alongside its users. This goes beyond just responding to commands; it’s about fostering relationships between users and their AI.”

The most notable update to Copilot is its new memory functionality. Now, the assistant can retain information such as preferences, previously used commands, and even personal context, making it more responsive and efficient in future interactions.

This means Copilot can, for example, anticipate a user’s needs based on past behaviours, from scheduling meetings to suggesting restaurants for a night out.

In addition to the memory features, Copilot’s new “Vision” capabilities extend the AI’s functionality across multiple platforms. Windows and mobile users will now be able to interact with Copilot using both the camera and on-screen elements.

This includes actions such as booking appointments, managing tasks, and even shopping online — all in a more interactive and seamless way.

 

Scott Guthrie, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President, shared his enthusiasm about the potential of these advancements, stating, “With these new capabilities, we’re not just reacting to AI’s capabilities — we’re shaping the future of how users interact with technology. AI can do so much more than just assist with tasks. It can enrich the human experience.”

The updated Copilot is designed to challenge industry competitors like ChatGPT and Claude, offering more personalised and context-aware interactions.

Microsoft has positioned its Copilot as a tool that not only assists users but builds a deeper, more intuitive relationship over time.

The company has also placed a strong emphasis on AI accessibility. With AI’s growing role in everyday tasks, Microsoft aims to make it easier for users to adopt and benefit from these technologies, regardless of their technological proficiency.

Despite past challenges, including legal disputes over privacy and AI ethics, Microsoft continues to push boundaries in the AI space. Guthrie remarked, “This is just the beginning. As we continue to innovate, we are reshaping how people work, interact, and live with technology.”

With Copilot’s advancements, the tech giant hopes to continue its legacy of innovation, making AI tools accessible and useful for people around the world.


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Report Suggests a Slash in Mobile App Usage By 2027 Due to AI Assistants

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By 2027 mobile app usage will decrease by 25 per cent due to AI assistants according to Gartner, Inc. Smartphone users will turn to AI assistants, such as Apple Intelligence, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Meta AI, and others to replace apps for many functions.

In addition to the impact of AI assistants, apps will be consolidated across separate brands and companies, creating mobile app partnerships or consortiums to reach more users per app at scale and defray the cost of creation and maintenance.

“CMOs should begin scenario planning for the impacts of decreased mobile app usage,” said Emily Weiss, Senior Principal for the Gartner Marketing Practice.

“Brands with low app engagement and retention will likely be first impacted – this will be a positive development for brands that are not overly reliant on driving revenue via apps as app development costs will decrease.

Other brands may be severely impacted by the disintermediation of users turning to AI assistants for services. The loss of app users will also result in the loss of first-party data collection and the ability to reach fewer users via mobile push notifications,” Emily added.

By 2026, Over 1/3 of Web Content will be Created for the Purposes of Gen-AI Powered Search According to Gartner’s 2024 CMO Spend Survey of 395 respondents between February and March 2024, the average CMO allocated almost a quarter of their digital marketing budget to search.

Other than end users directly visiting a website, search currently drives more traffic to the average commercial enterprise website than any other referral source.

Given this, a loss of search driven traffic due to algorithmic shifts by major search engines would result in tangible, negative commercial impact to any organisation.

“CMOs will need to direct their teams to hire talent with a strong understanding of how GenAI, and broader AI influences, impacts the performance of their content in search algorithms,” said Weiss.

“It will be important to upskill the function by investing in search and content talent with AI skillsets. These associates will need to have familiarity with creating or optimising content to train and rank within evolving search algorithms,” she said.

By 2028 digital Mlmarketers will move 30 per cent of their paid social budget to support advertising and partnerships on subscription-based channels It is becoming more challenging for CMOs to maintain, let alone grow, their reach and engagement among consumers.

This is especially true as consumers shift their tech and media behaviors away from social media, to other platforms and subscription based channels.

Gartner’s 2024 CMO Spend survey found that since 2022, paid social has maintained the highest budget allocation for all digital media spend. In 2024, B2C Marketing leaders reported allocating 14.3 per cent for their digital channel budget to social media advertising (an increase from 12.3% in 2023).

“Closed group communities and subscription channels of – fer a potential alternative for social media weary consumers and content creators who want to do more than feed the algorithm,” said Weiss.

“Brands can leverage closedgroup subscription channels – such as Substack, Patreon, and Discord – and the professional creators on them to reach relevant target audiences who are already engaging with content they self-selected into consuming,” she added.

Current AI models, such as large language models (LLMs), lack the agency to autonomously execute tasks and adapt in complex environments.

However, as new levels of intelligence are added, new AI agents are poised to quickly become more capable and reliable as brands seek to address customer facing use cases.

“There will be more AI agents than people, so while current approaches require humans in the loop, this idea will quickly become antiquated.

Marketers will need to determine when and how they can trust AI agents to act on behalf of the brand and customers across key areas,” said Weiss.


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