Hanover, MA - November 30, 2004… -- Worldwide retail revenues from color electrophotographic (EP) hardware, media and chemistry totaled almost $33 billion in 2003 and I.T. Strategies forecasts that in 2008 worldwide color EP revenues will reach more than $65 billion, a CAGR of 15%. Of this, the largest segment is and will continue to be chemistry, with revenues rising from $15 billion in 2003 to more than $36 billion in 2008, a CAGR of 19%. The color electrophotographic market can be divided into three broad segments based on type of imaging device: desktop color lasers, connected color copiers and digital presses. By 2008, a total of almost 10 million color EP devices will produce 483 billion A4 pages. Color copiers represent the largest revenue share of the market with total revenues growing from $21 billion in 2003 to more than $34 billion in 2008, a CAGR of 10%; however, the fastest revenue growth among printer types is desktop color lasers with total revenues growing from $10 billion in 2003 to more than $28 billion in 2008, a CAGR of 22%. According to Marco Boer, Consulting Partner at I.T. Strategies, the color EP market is headed for a change with the introduction by HP of its new laser-printer-based MFPs, which constitute a new category of devices. “These devices will cost less than traditional copiers, be more easily networkable than traditional copiers, have CRUs (Consumer Replaceable Units) that mean no more copier service person, and will be distributed through HP’s traditional LaserJet dealer channel. Because these devices have just been introduced, we don’t yet see their impact on the market, however we feel it will be very significant.”