Several lists exist that provide an overview of large software companies in the world. The lists differ by methodology of composition and consequently show substantial differences in both listed companies and ranking of those companies. Here a brief overview will be given of three lists and their characteristics and differences.
Contents
* 1 Forbes 2000
* 2 The Software 500 by Software Magazine
* 3 Other lists
* 4 See also
* 5 References and footnotes
Forbes 2000
This yearly list offers 2000 companies active in all kinds of industries. By selecting software & services a sublist can be made, which was 32 companies long in 2007. Forbes offers figures such as sales, profits, assets and market capitalization. Only public companies are listed. The ranking seems to be based upon a multiplication of sales*profits*assets*market capitalization. An extract of the Forbes list is provided below. The Forbes Global 2000 includes the following list of the world's largest software companies, ranked here by sales revenues: [1]
1. IBM
2. Microsoft Corporation
3. Oracle Corporation
4. Google
5. SAP
6. First Data
7. Electronic Data Systems
8. Softbank
9. Yahoo!
10. Symantec
The Software 500 by Software Magazine
A yearly list that is available after free subscription. The list offers 500 companies. Services revenues are included in the software revenues. Software Magazine sends out a yearly request for data: companies fill in their own data online. As Software Magazine is primarily read in the US, the list also has a slight focus on the US, although it is becoming more international every year. The companies are ranked according to software & services sales revenues. Both public and private companies are included.
Software Magazine’s Top 10 ranking is as follows (see their website for more info): [2]
1. EMC
2. IBM
3. Microsoft
4. Electronic Data Systems (now an HP company)
5. HP
6. Oracle Corporation
7. Computer Sciences Corporation
8. Accenture
9. SAP
10. Capgemini
11. Hitachi
Other lists
Technology research firms such as Gartner and IDC provide lists that are only available for a fee. Both their rankings are made according to sales revenues.
A few retail data banks, such as Nielsen, sell lists of the most popular prepackaged software sold in retail shops in a certain timeframe. Their lists are made according to the number of units sold or according to shop turnover. Their lists focus on retail and hence do not contain business to business software sales and may not include online sales.
See also
* List of the largest global technology companies
* List of companies by revenue
References and footnotes
1. ^ Forbes: The World's Biggest Public Companies By Industry (2007)
2. ^ Software Magazine (free registration required): "Software 500"
