The year that still is: IDC’s crystal ball and the IT industry

Oh what a year!

There is no doubt that 2009 will go down as a year to probably forget – Global Financial Crisis, Swine Flu, the death of pop-legend Michael Jackson, and the list goes on. With just a little over five months remaining, I wonder how the IT sector is really performing. Below is a quick reminder of what IDC said in terms of the top 10 predictions for 2009.

I wonder how accurate their crystal ball has been? Any thoughts, anyone?

1. Global IT growth will be cut in half
2. Emerging markets and small businesses IT spending will slow significantly
3. The IT industry’s expansion to the cloud will accelerate
4. The struggling offline economy will drive more shoppers to the online community
5. The telecom industry will consolidate, and expand in 2009
6. It will be a grim year for mobile gadgets
7. The crumbling of the ‘business/personal’ wall will accelerate
8. The reinvention of information access and analysis in 2009 will create a new leadership battle
9. Green technologies will have a good year disguised as cost cutting
10. Government initiatives in 2009 will catalyze massive IT investments and industry growth