IDC IT Predictions 2010: Apple (AAPL) To Launch iPad, IBM (IBM)To Buy Juniper (JNPR)

Its that time of the year again – IDC is all set to reveal its predictions for the IT industry in 2010.

IDC expects Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to launch its much awaited touch screen tablet computer iPad in 2010. The product is expected to be designed like a oversized iPod Touch with an 8-inch or 10-inch screen.

IDC believes that its larger screen will make the Apple tablet ideal for watching movies, surfing the internet and reading books, magazines and newspapers. In other words Apple would be encroaching on Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN)Kindle territory. In fact IDC chief analyst believes that Apple iPad could ‘deliver a kick in Kindle’s butt’.

When it comes to Apple products, there's a growing cult that seems to hold on to the lapel of wunderkind Steve Jobs and takes statements like this for granted. While it is hard to predict anything, we think that Amazon's Kindle is a much too established product to be dethroned so lightly.

IDC also predicts that netbooks will evolve into more powerful, albeit lighter models. IDC also envisions a fierce battle in the cloud computing space, where competition will intensify to supply tools and digital workbench. As of now Salesforce.com’s(NASDAQ: CRM) Force.com, Microsoft’s(NYSE: MSFT) Azure and Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) App engine are leading players. IDC expects Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) to join the fray.

IDC believes that the coming year could see IBM mounting a bid to acquire Juniper Networks (NASDAQ: JNPR). IBM’s rivals Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HPQ) and Cisco have bolstered their capabilities in the networking arena. The former acquired 3Com (NASDAQ: COMS) while the latter entered into an alliance with EMC (NYSE: EMC). IBM in response may have no choice but to make a bid for Juniper.