Systems running under Unix are experiencing major growth in the Spanish computer market according to a report by Spanish research and consulting company ECIE; 12,512 Unix systems were installed in 1989, a rise of 42% on the 1988 figure of 8,811. The 1988 figure alone represented 40% of the total installed base of 21,753 Unix installations: that base was valued at $506m at the beginning of 1989. Unix now accounts for 12% of multi-user installations, and 41% growth is expected for 1990, dropping to 36% in 1991, 29% in 1992 and 25% in 1993. The main growth is forecast to be in small systems and workstations in local area networks, particularily between 1991 and 1994. AT&T, Bull, DEC, Data General and Siemens have already announced their intentions to launch personal computer local area network products for Unix. Of the Unix base, 54.8% is accounted for by personal computers, followed by small and medium systems. The report indentified only one mainframe Unix installation, an M-series machine installed by Fujitsu Espana SA in 1988. At present Unisys Corp is the market leader, with 44.6% of the total Unix machines, due to the success of its PC/IT and PW2 personal computers. Some 12% of the market is held by Spanish TSI, with the company’s base also concentrated towards small systems. In thid place is Hewlett-Packard Co – but it comes out top of the tree in terms of value of its installed base. NCR is fourth in line both by number of systems installed and by value. The list continues with Siemens, Olivetti, DEC, Nixdorf, Philips, Control Data and Fujitsu. Interestingly IBM does not hold any of the top positions, but although the company was dubious to trust open standards initially it is now trying to get into the open market. Main users of Unix are service companies, businesses, distributors and public administration. The Spanish Central Government is giving special priority to Unix following the example of the European Community which supports open systems development for better communication and integration of the various organistations within the Community. Over the last few years Unix has been a necessary requirement for many public contracts in Spain. ECIE predicts the growth of Unix in Spain to be above the European average over the next few years.
