According to an Accredited Supplier poll, Microsoft is losing their grip on the UK small business market under increasing pressure from cloud computing and open source software.
Accredited Supplier’s poll of 1400 Microsoft customers, all small businesses in the UK, has raised concerns over Microsoft’s future in this market segment.
The poll revealed:
13% of businesses intend to switch to Google Apps within 12 months
13% Switching
29% Not aware of Google Apps
22% Undecided
36% Not switching
32% use Firefox as their default browser within their business
32% Firefox
3% Safari
58% Internet Explorer
2% Chrome
2% Opera
3% Other
Only 8% plan to upgrade to Windows 7 within 12 months of release
8% Yes
62% No
30% Unsure
62% “prefer” or “strongly prefer” to have their business applications work through a browser.
34% Prefer browser
28% Strongly prefer browser
12% No preference
8% Unsure
18% PC software
The poll makes for worrying reading for Microsoft, with only 8% intent on upgrading their operating system with the release of Windows 7.
Microsoft is not fairing well from the inevitable switch towards cloud computing either. The decline of Internet Explorer is particularly prevalent in the UK small business market, with Firefox taking nearly 1/3rd of the market.
Businesses are looking to move their business applications into the cloud and over 10% of Microsoft’s UK small business customers are actively considering making the switch to Google Apps.
Poll published: 1 September 2009
