23.1 mln SOHO firms by 2009

SOHO (small office or home office) firms will reach 23.1 mln by the end of 2009, IDC said. Penetration rates for cellular phones, PCs, and inkjet printers are similar and substantial for both SOHO segments. Monochrome laser printer ownership is higher in small offices than in home offices, but with declining prices, color laser printers will be increasingly attractive to both segments. LAN usage is higher among small offices than home offices, but networking use will grow significantly in both types of businesses in the coming years. Online small offices are more likely to have a home page than are online home offices, but home offices with a home page are more likely to be selling online.