Worldwideexternal disk storage systems factory revenues posted year-over-year growth of16.2%, totaling just under $6.1 billion, in the fourth quarter of 2010 (4Q10),according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly DiskStorage Systems Tracker. For the quarter, the total disk storage systems marketgrew to just shy of $8.3 billion in revenues, representing 14.3% growth fromthe prior year's fourth quarter. Total disk storage systems capacity shippedreach 5,127 petabytes, growing 55.7% year over year.

"Thefourth quarter of 2010 continued the trend of economic recovery, and helpedclose a successful year for disk storage," said Liz Conner, seniorresearch analyst, Storage Systems. "Aiding in the fourth quarter gains,and all of 2010, was the continued growth of network storage, growing 21.7%from 4Q09 to 4Q10 and 25.7% from 2009 to 2010. Reduction in IT budgetconstraints has allowed end users to take advantage of vertical and use-casespecific network storage products introduced in the past 12 to 18 months."

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