Microsoft (MSFT), RIM (RIMM), And Apple (AAPL) To Benefit From Increased Corporate Spending

Corporate IT spending will pick up in the first quarter of 2010. That is the finding of a new research survey from ChangeWave. A total of 1,753 respondents involved with corporate IT spending in their organizations participated in the November 9-20 survey. Twenty-two percent of respondents report their company’s corporate IT spending will increase for first quarter of 2010, which is a 4% improvement since a previous survey in August.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and RIM (NASDAQ:RIMM) will be among the biggest beneficiaries of the improvement in IT investment.

ChangeWave reports that for the second consecutive survey Microsoft shows the most momentum going forward — once again clearly attributable to the Windows 7 effect-with a 12% improvement in planned purchases over the August measurement.

Purchases of smartphones will also increase. RIM’s Blackberry will be the N0.1 choice of most companies but the Apple iPhone is making significant progress. While Research In Motion maintains a dominant share of planned corporate buying going forward with 69% of the market, increased competition is continuing to chip away at its huge lead with its share of planned purchases down 5% from August. Apple continues to show growth in terms of corporate planned purchases with 30% of respondents saying their company will buy Apple phones in first quarter of 2010.

ChangeWave reports that the biggest surprise of the survey is the strong showing for Motorola (NYSE:MOT), which registered a huge 7% jump in terms of first quarter planned buying from 4% to 11%.

Douglas A. McIntyre