The one area that appears still to be gaining ground in the X Window terminal world is the business of selling software that emulates the X terminal on an iAPX-86-based personal computer. Worldwide PC X server shipments grew to 654,900 units in 1995, up 42.3% on last year, according to International Data Corp. Hummingbird Communications Ltd captured the top spot with 46% of market share both in the number of units shipped and in revenues generated. Worldwide vendor turnover grew by 40% to $108m in 1995. The Framingham, Massachusetts researcher expects 1996 worldwide shipments to increase by 40% in volume and 38% in sales respectively. IDC attributes the growth to the capability for PC X servers to distribute information between Unix and other X Window-based host computers. It expects further industry consolidation. Fastest-growing vendor was Walker, Richer & Quinn Inc which increased unit shipments 153% and turnover by 121%. IDC expects Walker, Richer to bring pressure to bear on Hummingbird and Network Computing Devices Inc with its Windows NT product later this year.
