FRAMINGHAM (12/08/2003) - IDC last week announced its annual IT predictions for the coming year, and according to the research firm's worldwide analysis, spending will increase and infrastructure will evolve to better support business-driven initiatives. IDC Senior Vice President Frank Gens said IT spending would grow 6 percent to 8 percent, up from previous predictions of just less than 5 percent. Gens said enterprise adoption of business-oriented applications and the need to upgrade hardware after a three-year drought would drive the upturn in IT buying. "We could be in for a refresh of 3-year-old or older IT infrastructure in 2004," he said. "IT organizations have been sitting on their hands for years, but this optimism certainly is fragile considering the last few years." Radio frequency identification also will see slower growth than previously expected, IDC says.
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