Global hard drive capacity to quadruple by 2011

The hard disk drive (HDD) industry will more than quadruple the total capacity shipped in 2006 by 2011, according to new research.

IDC predicts that worldwide HDD unit shipments will increase to 675 million in 2011, while revenue will rise to approximately $37bn.

"The expanding digital universe creates a tremendous opportunity for HDD storage used in PCs, enterprise systems and personal devices," said John Rydning, research manager for IDC's HDD programme.

"Despite challenges from competing storage technologies, volatile consumer electronic markets and enigmatic changes ahead for the computing environment, the fundamental need for additional storage capacity worldwide will continue to generate solid HDD demand."

Rydning further predicts that "aggressive" Nand Flash price reductions will severely curtail the market opportunity for HDDs in handheld devices.