PC Data

{{Short description|Company}}

{{About|a company|other use|computer file|and|computer data storage}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox company

| name = PC Data

| logo =

| type = Private

| industry = Market research

| founded = 1991

| defunct = March 29, 2001

| founder = Ann Stephens

| hq_location_city = Reston, Virginia

| hq_location_country = U.S.

| products = {{Unbulleted list|Market intelligence|Business analytics}}

}}

PC Data was an American market research and point of sale tracking firm founded in 1991 and based in Reston, Virginia. Its founder, Ann Stephens, had worked previously as the head researcher for the Software Publishers Association. Initially, the firm tracked only the United States' computer software market,{{cite news | author=Corcoran, Elizabeth | date=August 19, 1996 | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20180429010556/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1996/08/19/software-sales-by-the-numbers/efc88b54-dbec-404f-8344-6aa54304e67a/ | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1996/08/19/software-sales-by-the-numbers/efc88b54-dbec-404f-8344-6aa54304e67a/ | title=Software Sales, by the Numbers | newspaper=Washington Post | archivedate=April 29, 2018 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2018 }} but later expanded to include hardware sales and, in 1999, Internet traffic.{{cite news| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429020539/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/2000-02/14/061r-021400-idx.html | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/2000-02/14/061r-021400-idx.html | title=In Which the Local Hare Enters a Dogfight | date=February 14, 2000 | author=Bredemeier, Kenneth | archivedate=April 29, 2018 | newspaper=Washington Post | url-status=live }} By 1996, The Washington Post described PC Data as "the preeminent tabulator of facts and figures of the monthly sales of consumer software in the United States". Its coverage of the United States retail software sales market had grown to 80% by September 1998.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000410115414/http://pc.ign.com/news/5026.html | url=http://pc.ign.com:80/news/5026.html | title=PC Data Expands Coverage | date=September 28, 1998 | archivedate=April 10, 2000 | work=IGN | author=IGN Staff | url-status=dead | access-date=April 28, 2020 }}

In March 2001, The NPD Group purchased PC Data's point-of-sale research branch and merged it with its Intelect Market Tracking division.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429013454/http://adage.com/article/news/f-y-i/11017/ | url=http://adage.com/article/news/f-y-i/11017/ | title=F.Y.I. | date=March 19, 2001 | author=Staff | archivedate=April 29, 2018 | work=Ad Age | url-status=live }}{{cite press release | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010406063146/http://www.pcdata.com/press/npd031601.html | url=http://www.pcdata.com:80/press/npd031601.html | title=NPD Intelect Acquires Point-of-Sale Tracking Division of PC Data | archivedate=April 6, 2001 | publisher=PC Data | date=March 16, 2001 | location=Port Washington, New York | url-status=dead | access-date=April 28, 2020 }} Following a legal settlement with the rival company Jupiter Media Matrix regarding patent infringement, PC Data ceased Internet traffic research and closed later in March.{{cite news | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20180429023549/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/29/business/technology-briefing-internet-web-measurement-lawsuits.html | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/29/business/technology-briefing-internet-web-measurement-lawsuits.html | title=Technology Briefing: Internet; Web Measurement Lawsuits | date=March 29, 2001 | archivedate=April 29, 2018 | newspaper=The New York Times | author=Stellin, Susan | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2018 }}{{cite news | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040515164101/https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2001/04/09/newscolumn10.html | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2001/04/09/newscolumn10.html | title=In PC Data's shutdown, competitors find opportunity | date=April 6, 2001 | archivedate=May 15, 2004 | author=Kady II, Martin | newspaper=American City Business Journals | url-status=live }} Firms NetValue and ComScore purchased the remainder of PC Data's Internet research branch.