Storage Management Software Market Improving

   The storage management software market has jumped back after a decline, according to research firm Gartner. In a new report, the firm says worldwide sales for storage management software increased 7.9 percent in 2003 to $5 billion. The increase is welcome news to an industry that saw sales decline 5.8 percent, to $4.6 billion, in 2002 based on slow IT spending. The good times are expected to continue, according to Carolyn DiCenzo, Gartner analyst and vice president, who forecasts similar growth this year.
   Storage giant EMC ranked first in sales in 2003 with revenue of $1.4 billion and 28.3 percent of the storage management software market. EMC's numbers include sales from its LEGATO Software division, which the company acquired last year. Coming in second is VERITAS  Software, with revenues of $935 million and an 18.7 percent market share. In third place is IBM, which had sales of $650 million and a 13 percent market share. Rounding out the top five are HP, with a 5.6 percent market share, and Computer Associates (CA), close on HP's heels with a 5.3 percent share.