World's largest software companies
Encyclopedia
Several lists exist that provide an overview of large software companies in the world. Three lists are available to the public. 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 three public lists and their characteristics and differences.
is provided below.
Forbes
includes services revenues given its listing of IBM, Accenture, Computer Sciences and Cap Gemini. Forbes also appears to include advertising revenues given the listing of Google and Yahoo in their Top 10. Large private software companies are not on the Forbes list. Market capitalization influences the ranking: Forbes has used the market cap of Mar 01 2010 to build their list.
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 of 2009 is as follows (see their website for more info):
Due to the inclusion of services revenues, many IT services companies appear on the list: Accenture, CSC and Cap Gemini. Software Magazine usually publishes a new edition in September.
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.
Forbes 2000
This yearly list shows 2000 large companies active in all kinds of industries. By selecting software & services a sublist can be made, which is 35 companies long in the 2010 edition. Forbes shows 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. A Top 10 extract of the world's largest software companies according to the Forbes Global 2000Forbes Global 2000
The Forbes Global 2000 is an annual ranking of the top 2000 public companies in the world by Forbes magazine. The ranking is based on a mix of four metrics: sales, profit, assets and market value...
is provided below.
- IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
- Oracle CorporationOracle CorporationOracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
- GoogleGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
- AccentureAccentureAccenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company headquartered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the largest consulting firm in the world and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of September 2011, the company had more than 236,000 employees across...
- SAP AGSAP AGSAP AG is a German software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, with regional offices around the world, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software...
- Hewlett Packard
- Computer Sciences CorporationComputer Sciences CorporationComputer Sciences Corporation is an American information technology and business services company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, USA...
- Yahoo!Yahoo!Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
- CA
- MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
includes services revenues given its listing of IBM, Accenture, Computer Sciences and Cap Gemini. Forbes also appears to include advertising revenues given the listing of Google and Yahoo in their Top 10. Large private software companies are not on the Forbes list. Market capitalization influences the ranking: Forbes has used the market cap of Mar 01 2010 to build their list.
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 MagazineSoftware Magazine
Software Magazine is a software and IT magazine.-Software 500 survey:Software 500 survey can be used to gauge the value of the commercial software industry. The Software 500 survey consists of data of the top 500 software companies, as ranked by 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 of 2009 is as follows (see their website for more info):
- MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
- IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
- Oracle CorporationOracle CorporationOracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
- AccentureAccentureAccenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company headquartered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the largest consulting firm in the world and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of September 2011, the company had more than 236,000 employees across...
- FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- GoogleGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
- Yahoo
- HP
- SymantecSymantecSymantec Corporation is the largest maker of security software for computers. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 stock market index.-History:...
- CapgeminiCapgeminiCapgemini is a French global IT services company, one of the world's largest management consulting, outsourcing and professional services companies with a staff of 114,274 operating in 40 countries. It is headquartered in Paris and was founded in 1967 by Serge Kampf, the current chairman, in...
Due to the inclusion of services revenues, many IT services companies appear on the list: Accenture, CSC and Cap Gemini. Software Magazine usually publishes a new edition in September.
Other lists
Technology research firms such as GartnerGartner
Gartner, Inc. is an information technology research and advisory firm headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. It was known as GartnerGroup until 2001....
and IDC
IDC
-Businesses and organizations:* Industrial Development Corporation, also known as Castle Grande, an Arkansas company involved in the Whitewater political controversy* Interactive Data Corporation , a financial services company...
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
Nielsen
Nielsen , is a Danish patronymic surname, literally meaning son of Niels, Niels being the Danish version of the Greek male given name Νικόλαος, Nikolaos . It is the second most common surname in Denmark, shared by about 5% of the population. It is also used in Norway, although the form Nelsen and...
, 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
- Software Magazine has the most comprehensive list of companies available. Each year they publish the Software 500. http://www.softwaremag.com
- List of companies by revenue