STAMFORD, USA: Worldwide external controller-based (ECB) disk storage revenue totaled $4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2008, a 10.2 percent increase over the same period in 2007, according to Gartner Inc.

EMC, Dell, NetApp and Fujitsu/Fujitsu Siemens all experienced strong double-digit growth year over year among the top-tier vendors. EMC maintained the No. 1 spot overall, finishing the quarter with 24.1 percent market share. IBM was in second place with 11.3 percent of the market followed closely by HP with 11.0 percent. Hitachi/HDS was in the No. 4 position with a market share of 10.1 percent.

Dell, after tying NetApp for the No. 5 spot in 1Q07, took over that position this quarter largely because of Dell's acquisition of EquaLogic last year. Fujitsu/Fujitsu Siemens' revenue grew considerably year over year, mostly because of Fujitsu Siemens Computers introduction of new brands in Europe. Other vendors increased their share of the market by 33.6 percent year over year, finishing the quarter with 16.0 percent of the market.

"A revenue growth of 10.2 percent worldwide year over year indicates that the storage market is still in strong demand. Capacity shipments grew 48.9 percent year over year to 1.1 million terabytes showing the continuing mounting need for additional storage," said Robin Burke, research vice president for Gartner's global Storage Quarterly Statistics program.