Dell Computer Corp moved into the number two position in worldwide PC server shipment market share in the third quarter, according to International Data Corp. The direct marketer of hardware slipped past IBM Corp during the period but remained well behind leader Compaq Computer Corp. Dell’s PowerEdge servers gained four percentage points year-over-year in worldwide market share, ending the quarter with 15.4% of the market, compared to IBM’s 12.9% and Hewlett-Packard Co’s 12.5%. Compaq retained a commanding lead, however, with roughly 32% of the worldwide market.
Still, Dell points out that it has come a long way since September 1996, when it held just a 3.2% share of the worldwide server market. With the publication of IDC’s latest figures, the Round Rock, Texas-based company has grown its share by more than 475% in three years. Unit growth rate for the third quarter came in at 79% year-over-year, or nearly twice the industry rate, Dell says. In the US market alone, Dell also held the number two spot with 25.7% market share and 78% unit growth. Separately, Dell now claims that its overall web sales – including all of its products – have reached $35m per day.
