Industry Profiles

Industry Financials & Statistics

Industry Forecasts

Trade & Industry Associations

News, Trade & Industry Publications

Government & Regulatory Agencies

Companies

Resources specific to the Computer Industries like Computer Hardware & Peripherals, Computer Software, Internet/Online Services and Networking Equipment & Services. For general assistance researching industry, see Company & Industry Research.

Many databases and reference sources are organized by SIC and NAICS codes which classify companies and industries by their primary line of business. Jot down the codes before you begin your research.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
SIC codes for computer hardware, software and services industries include the following:

• SIC 3571 Electronic Computers
• SIC 3572 Computer Storage Devices
• SIC 7371 Computer Programming Services
• SIC 7372 Prepackaged Software (Software Publishers)
• SIC 7379 Other Computer Services (includes Consulting)

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
The NAICS system is replacing the SIC system. Many databases and reference sources still use SIC codes, but are, or will be, switching to the NAICS system. NAICS codes for computer hardware, software and services industries include the following:

• NAICS 334111 Electronic Computer Manufacturing
• NAICS 334112 Computer Storage Device Manufacturing
• NAICS 511210 Software Publishers
• NAICS 541512 Computer Systems Design Services
• NAICS 541513 Computer Facilities Management Services

Standard & Poor's Computers: Commercial Services, Computers: Consumer Services & the Internet, Computers: Hardware, Computers: Networking, and Computers: Software Industry Surveys (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Substantial overview (about 30 pages), statistics and outlook for the industry. Includes a comparative analysis of statistics for industry's major players.
Special Directions: select "Industry" from the horizontal blue menu bar at the top of S & P's home page.

Also available in the library in print.
Location: REF HC 106.6 .S74

Mergent IT & High-Technology Industry Report (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Asia/Pacific, European, and North American markets. Includes industry and country profiles, often with competitor information, review of current environment, market trends & outlook, key references and summary of key points of detailed report.

Business Source Premier (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Computer Technology
Global industry profiles from leading market research sources.

Value Line Research Center Computer & Peripherals, Computer Software & Services, E-Commerce, and Internet Industry Descriptions (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
One page overview and forecast, and some industry statistics, for the industry. Also available in the library in print.
Location: Business Reference Area Hoover's Industry Records (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Computer Software, Hardware, and Services
Detailed industry overview including key people and ranking of key companies. Find industry news, company lists, news, and industry-related website links. Hoover's provides detailed sub-industry links, SIC and NAICS codes, and industry family trees.

Standard & Poor's Computers: Commercial Services, Computers: Consumer Services & the Internet, Computers: Hardware, Computers: Networking, and Computers: Software Industry Surveys (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Substantial overview (about 30 pages), statistics and outlook for industry. Includes comparative analysis of statistics for industry's major players.
Special Directions: select "Industry" from the horizontal blue menu bar at the top of S & P's home page.

Also available in the library in print.
Location: REF HC 106.6 .S74

Value Line Research Center Computer & Peripherals, Computer Software & Services, E-Commerce, and Internet Industry Descriptions (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
One page overview and forecast, and some industry statistics, for industry. Also available in the library in print.
Location: Business Reference Area

CyberAtlas
Internet statistics and market research.

Nua Internet Surveys
Internet surveys, demographics, statistics and market research.

Current Industrial Report: Computers and Office and Accounting Machines
From the US Census Bureau.

Mergent IT & High-Technology Industry Report (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Asia/Pacific, European, and North American markets. Includes industry and country profiles, often with competitor information, review of current environment, market trends & outlook, key references and summary of key points of detailed report.

Standard & Poor's Computers: Commercial Services, Computers: Consumer Services & the Internet, Computers: Hardware, Computers: Networking, and Computers: Software Industry Surveys (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Substantial overview (about 30 pages), statistics and outlook for industry. Includes comparative analysis of statistics for industry's major players.
Special Directions: select "Industry" from the horizontal blue menu bar at the top of S & P's home page.

Also available in the library in print.
Location: REF HC 106.6 .S74

Mergent IT & High-Technology Industry Report (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Detailed information on Asia/Pacific, European, and North American markets. Iincludes industry and country profiles, often with competitor information, review of the current environment, market trends & outlook, key references and summary of key points of detailed report.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Technology Forecast
Location: REF HC 79 .I55 .T432 (Latest Edition)
HC 79 .I55 .T432 (Previous Editions)

Business & Company Resource Center (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Find associations related to the industry using Business & Company Resource Center. Use Advanced Search and select Associations in Content Area pull-down menu. This gives you access to International, US National, and Regional, State & Local volumes of Encyclopedia of Associations.

Search the Cole Library's list of electronc full text journals using the Electronic Journals: A-Z list.

ABI/Inform (ProQuest) (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Full text articles from trade publications related to computing.

Business Source Premier (EBSCO) (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Full text articles on computing from trade and business sources.

Trade and Industry Publications from LexisNexis Academic (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Full text articles from relevant publications, including Computer Reseller News, Computer Weekly and Internet Business News.

Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the US Department of Justice

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

US Copyright Office

US Department of Commerce (DOC)

For help finding the web sites for companies you are interested in, take a look at our guide to locating a company's web site.

Find lists of major companies in the industry using these databases:

Mergent Online (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
See the Industry Reports or search by NAICS or SIC.

Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
See the Comparative Company Analysis section.

Hoover's (Rensselaer at Hartford login ID and password required)
Search one company in the industry and use the Competitors link to see others. Industry keyword search and browsing are also available.