FRAMINGHAM, MA -- Worldwide PC shipments are expected to grow 10.5% this year, boosted by sales to the Asia-Pacific region, said research firm IDC. Meanwhile, Gartner Group forecast a 10.7% rise in shipments.

Both firms estimate PC shipments grew more than 15% last year.

According to Gartner, desktop shipments to emerging markets will grow 19.5% but fall 8.6% in mature markets. Overall, the firm said, desktops will grow 1.9%, while mobile PC shipments are expected to grow 31.4% worldwide.

IDC forecasts emerging marketsto grow 18.5% and Asia-Pacific to grow 13.2%. Western Europe will grow 9.7% and the U.S. 6.8%. Japan will remain flat.

Growth in 2007 is expected to be stable, at worst, due to the debut of Microsoft's Vista operating system.