Hardware revenue definition
The Hardware Top 100 ranks ICT hardware companies. Companies are ranked on the basis of relevant revenues in the last calendar year. Relevant revenues are revenues from sales of computer hardware, components, peripherals, monitors, printers, telephones, PDAs, and communications equipment.

Excluded are revenues from sales of software, services, TVs, audio sets, car stereos, MP3 players, cameras, navigation- and GPS equipment and other consumer electronics.

Sources
Data is gathered from SEC filings, annual reports and corporate websites. In some cases additional information is requested from investor relations departments, or obtained from market research agencies and internet media.

Comparability
To make company revenues comparable, calendar year revenues are used for the list. Corrections are made when financial years do not match calendar years. Corrections are also made to eliminate exchange rate differences: all revenues are presented in US dollars. The exchange rate at the end of the relevant calendar year is used in the calculation.

Uniformity
Although it is attempted to gather and present all data in a uniform way, differences in corporate accounting policies are likely to provide minor distortions in revenue recognition.

Reproducibility
All revenue calculations and data sources are available to the public so that the information in the list can be verified independently.

Integrity
The Hardware Top 100 is made by independent researchers of the Top 100 Research Foundation. Companies do not (can not) pay to be on the list. The only qualification for a position on the list is: sufficient hardware revenues.

Timing
A fresh edition of the Hardware Top 100 is published annually, after the IT industry has published the necessary annual reports. Typically, publication of the fresh edition takes place in the second half of July.