By the end of 2008, there will be over one billion personal computers in use worldwide, and this growth will continue into the future, new research suggests.

Forrester Research has predicted that worldwide PC growth will accelerate to such a degree that there will be two billion PCs in use by 2015.

Advancing technology, lower prices, and global demand will all add to more PC sales, which show that IT will become increasingly important for small businesses hoping to tap into new markets.

In particular, emerging markets like Brazil, Russia, India, and China will drive this growth, accounting for more than 775 million new PCs by 2015.

"There is nothing more important to the long-term health of the technology industry - and personal technology in particular - than the ability to deliver relevant, accessible and affordable technology to the billions of people worldwide who have not been exposed to it," explained Forrester Research vice president Simon Yates.

"The industry can probably survive selling incrementally better hardware and software to the people who already have technology in their lives, but the vast majority of growth in the PC and related industries will come from emerging markets."

As more people gain access to PC, so to will the opportunities available to businesses operating over the internet.

Recently, it was found that around 60 per cent of small businesses felt unhappy with their current web presence and would like to improve it.