However, total worldwide hard copy unit shipments declined 18% year over year to 26.4 million units, while shipment value fell 21% to $12.8 billion in 1Q 2009, the third consecutive quarterly decline.

  

"IDC continues to expect a recovery for the HCP market inearly 2010," said Phuong Hang, program manager, Worldwide Hardcopy Peripheral Trackers. "IDC expects that vendors will employ several strategies to weather the current economic downturn. The battle will continue in the channel to gain go-to-market strength and capacity. Vendors will also focus on offering costcutting and/or productivity enhancements to customer’s existing document infrastructure as well as driving managed print services."