World's largest software companies

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.

The Software Top 100 by the Top 100 Research Foundation

A yearly list that is freely available online. As the name indicates, the list offers 100 companies, which are ranked according to software sales revenues. Services revenues are not included, only software license and maintenance revenues. The list is primarily based upon a yearly analysis of a few hundred relevant annual reports by the foundation’s researchers. Both public and private companies are included.In 2008, the Top 10 looks as follows (see their website for more info): ["Software Top 100": [http://www.softwaretop100.org "The World's Largest Software Companies"] ]

# Microsoft
# IBM
# Oracle Corporation
# SAP
# HP
# Symantec
# Computer Associates
# Nintendo
# Electronic Arts
# Adobe Systems

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: ["Forbes": [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/18/biz_07forbes2000_The-Global-2000_IndName_17.html "The World's Biggest Public Companies By Industry (2007)"] ]

# Microsoft
# Accenture
# Oracle
# First Data
# SAP
# Google
# Yahoo!
# Computer Sciences Corporation
# Electronic Data Systems
# Softbank

Note:The above list does not include companies like IBM whose software/services part is bigger than Microsoft. In the Forbes2000 report IBM and HP were listed as Technology Hardware companies. Also, some software companies listed in the Forbes report under 'Business Services' should also be in the above table. Additionally, some of the companies listed above have a very small presence in prepackaged software and are generally regarded as IT service firms (Accenture, EDS, CSC).

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): ["Software Magazine (free registration required)": [http://www.softwaremag.com "Software 500"] ]

# IBM
# Microsoft
# Electronic Data Systems
# HP
# Accenture
# Computer Sciences Corporation
# Oracle Corporation
# SAP
# Cap Gemini
# Hitachi

Other lists

IT-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 databanks, 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.

ee also

*List of the largest global technology companies
*List of companies by revenue

References and footnotes