A couple of prior value leaders retook their pride of place with the 2009 survey, but most are surging to new heights. Sun and Avaya are now highly preferred by their customers, while Verizon communications represents more of a welcome rise out of the doldrums and Microsoft a return to the middle ranks. Meanwhile, Nortel, Sprint, cA and 3com have all had spotty histories in our survey; only McAfee’s drop has taken it out of what used to be a leadership position. Vendors Who Changed the Most
Vendor Sun Microsystems
Verizon Communications
Avaya
Symantec
Red Hat
Microsoft
Average of all ratings 2009
81%
65
75
77
85
71
Change from 2008
+16%
+ 16
+ 13
+ 12
+ 10
+ 10
Average of all ratings 2008
65%
49
62
65
75
61
Change in rating 2008–2009
VALUe reLiABiLiTY +15% +16%
+ 15 + 15
+ 14 + 13
+ 13 + 12
+ 10 + 12
+ 11 + 9
Category of greatest gain
helps reduce costs
on time/budget
flexible/responsive
ROI
on time/budget
helps reduce costs
+18%
+ 19
+ 22
+ 15
+ 15
+ 16
5 Who Fell Most
Vendor Nortel Networks
Sprint Nextel
McAfee
CA
3Com
Average of all ratings 2009
56%
60
67
49
65
Change from 2008
–8%
– 5
– 5
– 3
– 3
Average of all ratings 2008
64%
65
72
52
68
Change in rating 2008–2009
VALUe reLiABiLiTY –7% –10%
– 10 0
– 6 –1
– 3 –2
– 4 –2
Category of greatest loss
helps with revenue
helps with revenue
helps reduce costs
quality
helps with revenue
–23%
– 18
– 10
– 9
– 8
This poorly loved group of vendors did a bit better than in years past, particularly Verizon Communications. But Sprint’s slide back into the doldrums and At&t’s service issues keep Verizon Wireless the sole stand-out. Still, even these vendors improved at least a little, and the increased importance of mobility in businesses’ plans and it’s mandate makes this category one to watch closely—and this category of vendors one to ask more of.
rank
2009 rank
2008 rank
2007 rank
2006 Vendor
1 2 1 1 Verizon Wireless
2 4 2 4 Verizon Communications
3 3 3 3 AT&T
4 1 4 2 Sprint Nextel
AVERAGE 2009
AVERAGE 2008
AVERAGE 2007
AVERAGE 2006
Average of all ratings 2009 71%
Value
72%
Reliability
71%
Prefer to stay with vendor (% yes)
86%
65
64
66
80
61
60
64
57
57
55
60
57
63
57
57
56
62
63
65
57
57
54
78
70
79
76
77
References:
Archives