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Microprocessor Shipments Up 31% In 4Q, Hitting Record -IDC
Last update: 1/26/2010 6:59:42 AM
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Worldwide personal-computer microprocessor shipments jumped 31% during the fourth quarter from a year earlier and rose "modestly" sequentially, indicating that "the market is returning to normal seasonal patterns," according research company IDC.

Shipments hit a record for the quarter, though IDC didn't give a figure. It did say 2009 processor shipments grew 2.5% while revenue dropped 7.1% to $28.6 billion.

"Compared to 4Q08, the huge rise in shipments indicates that the market has put the recession behind it," said Shane Rau, a research director at IDC. "Both comparisons indicate that the PC industry anticipates improvement in PC end demand in 2010."

IDC joins other firms in projecting increased demand for computer technology as the country exits the recession, saying it now sees 15% growth in processor shipments for 2010, compared with 2009 --more than the research company had previously expected.

By market share, Intel Corp. (INTC) fell 0.6 percentage point to 80.5% and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) rose 0.7 point to 19.4%.

-By Nathan Becker, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2855; [e-mail]; (END) Dow Jones NewswiresJanuary 26, 2010 06:59 ET (11:59 GMT)