Lean, Mean -- and Green -- IT Users Rely on Tighter Budgeting to Weather the Coming Rough Economy

BOSTON, MA, Jul 23 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Information Technology industry, accustomed to year after year of
growth, shows signs of significant belt-tightening. The Standish Group's
just-released report, "Trends in IT Investments"
(http://www.standishgroup.com) shows that the looming recession has spiked
concerns about how it will affect an industry that is accustomed to
success and expansion. Standish Group estimates that annual spending is
more than three trillion dollars of which a trillion is for IT goods and
services.

Jim Johnson, Chairman of The Standish Group, said, "The effects of a
business slow down on overall IT spending can be disastrous for an
industry dependent on funding in order to introduce new markets to keep
the technology wheel turning. It can also impact the enticement of new
young minds to create the next technology masterpieces. Fear of a
recession has many companies reducing significant investments and looking
at ways to lower costs."

Mr. Johnson continued, "In 2008 we will see the move toward energy
efficiency start to affect IT budgets -- not with a boon to cash outlays
but in a growing desire to recognize the effect that IT has on rising
energy costs. This pressure will come in the form of being responsible for
the associated energy costs of IT. Green is the color of survival," he
said.

Standish Group's "Trends in IT Investments" looks at 15 key indicators on
how IT is spending their resources. The report looks at the primary
drivers of the IT marketplace for 2008 and where Standish Group sees the
market heading, as well as where it has been. It brings together research,
analysis, and educated opinion.

Key indicators and budget areas reviewed are: Application Packages,
Business Intelligence, Collaboration Design and Requirements, Development,
E-commerce, Integration and Migration, Project Management,
Quality/Testing/Inspection, Readiness, Security, Servers and Storage,
Staff and Services, Standards and De Facto Standards, Wireless, Mobile,
and Networks.

These behavioral indicators show the growing need to seek a reduction of
energy and resource dependency -- giving companies the opportunity to
evaluate waste and use their systems to maximum capacity and longevity. It
can also encourage vendors to seek new ways to compete based on
longer-term quality.

About The Standish Group International, Inc.

Since 1985 The Standish Group, the leader in spotting future trends, has
been helping end users and vendors of technology solutions prepare for the
future. The Standish Group delivers fast, consistent and reliable IT
advice built on a solid foundation of primary research. For further
information on visit our website at: http://www.standishgroup.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Swartz
SIZZLE PR
Email Contact
t: 978-524-9595
c: 978-265-4934

Copyright 2008, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

-0-