The number of US households paying bills online will grow from 48 mln in 2008 to 63 mln by 2014, according to Forrester Research. The 5.4% compound annual growth rate reflects a maturing market where growth rates will shrink in the years ahead.
US video game sales down 23% in May 2009
US sales of video games dived 23% to $863 mln in May 2009, NPD said, dipping below the $1 bln threshold for the first time since August 2007.
89% of Americans with income over $75,000 subscribe to broadband
89% of all households with annual incomes over $75,000 subscribe to a broadband service – compared to 70% of households with incomes of $30,000-$75,000, and 37% of households with incomes under $30,000. 38% of households with annual incomes under $30,000 do not have a computer at home, and only half of households in this income group subscribe to any type of Internet service at home. 67% of broadband subscribers are very satisfied with their service – while just 4% are not satisfied. 29% of broadband subscribers are very interested in receiving faster Internet access at home – while 37% are not interested. Overall, 3% of Internet subscribers say that broadband is not available in their area, Leichtman Research says.
Men spend $908 annually on consumer electronics, women spend $558
An average US household spent $1,229 on consumer electronics products in the past 12 months, $176 less than in the prior year, according to Consumer Electronics Association.
Men continue to spend more on consumer electronics than women, spending $902 annually compared with women, who spent $558. Young adults spent more than any other age group. Consumers ages 18 to 24 reportedly spent $1,056 in 2008 on CE devices, an increase of nearly $100 from the prior year. The average household reports owning 23 CE products, down from 24 products in 2008. The number of separate CE products per household increased, from 13, to 15.
CPU market down 10.9% in Q1 2009
Worldwide PC microprocessor shipments in Q1 2009 fell significantly for the second quarter in a row, according to IDC. In Q1 2009, worldwide PC processor unit shipments declined –10.9% from Q4 2008 to Q1 2009, as compared to –17.0% from Q3 2008 to Q4 2008. Unit shipments declined –13.0% from Q1 2008 to Q1 2009. Market revenue declined –11% from Q4 2009 to Q1 2009, as compared to –18.0% from Q3 2008 to Q4 2008. Revenue declined –25.1% from Q1 2008 to Q1 2009.
26% of US consumers thinking of cutting costs by switching to prepaid cellular
Two out of five Americans with contract-based cell phones (39% or 60.3 mln consumers) are likely to cut back on their cell phones to save money if, as is widely expected, the economy gets worse over the next six months, according to Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) for the New Millennium Research Council (NMRC).
26% of consumers with contract-based cell phone service are more inclined today than 6 months ago to look at a way to save money on their cell phone bill, such as by switching to prepaid phone plans and services. This group includes 38% of those in households making $35,000 a year or less, 32% of African Americans and 30% of those aged 18-34. A total of 19 mln Americans have considered cutting back (5%) or actually have cut back (15%) on such features in the last six months because of actual job loss, fear of job loss, the recession, or any other related financial concerns. More than two out of five cell phone users with extras on their phones (41%) say it is very (19%) or somewhat (21%) likely that they will cut back on cell phone extras if the economy gets worse in the next six months. Fewer than two in five (39%) say it is not likely at all that they will make such cuts in the face of a deepening recession.
Web-to-TV streaming services to generate $2.9 bln by 2013
Over 40% of young adult US households view Internet video on the TV at least once per month, In-Stat found. Revenue from Web-to-TV streaming services will grow to $2.9 bln in 2013. Within five years, the number of US broadband households viewing Web-to-TV content will grow to 24 mln. Already, 29% of US 25 to 34 year olds with game consoles use the devices to watch streaming video off the Internet. In five years, there will be 7.4 mln US broadband households that use media center PCs for streaming Web-to-TV content.
Top-selling smartphones in Q1 2009
Based on US consumer sales of smartphone handsets in NPD’s report, Q1 2009 ranking of the top-five best-selling smartphones is as follows:
- RIM BlackBerry Curve (all 83XX models)
- Apple iPhone 3G (all models)
- RIM BlackBerry Storm
- RIM BlackBerry Pearl (all models, except flip)
- T-Mobile G1
Semiconductor sales down 29.9% in Q1 2009
Worldwide sales of semiconductors were $14.7 bln in March 2009, a gain of 3.3% from the prior month when sales were $14.2 bln, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reported. Sales for Q1 2009 amounted to $44.0 bln, a 29.9% decline from Q1 2008 when sales were $62.8 bln. Sales declined by 15.7% from the Q4 2008 when sales were $52.2 bln.
58% of Americans have a mobile phone with Web connectivity
58% of online consumers currently own a mobile phone capable of connecting to the Web. Of the online consumers with Web-enabled phones, 21% own a smartphone, 8% own an iPhone(TM), and 29% own another type of Web-enabled phone. 42% of PriceGrabber survey respondents said they own a non-Web-enabled phone capable of using voice and text service plans only. iPhone, released on June 29, 2007, jump-started mainstream smartphone adoption, with 75% more online consumers purchasing their first Web-enabled phone in 2007 compared with 2006. Despite the economic climate, 8% of online consumers purchased their first Web-enabled phone in Q1 2009.
10% of online consumers said they purchase online from their mobile device, 16% compare prices and another 16% research product details/specifications. Of the online consumers making purchases from their mobile phones, 58% have purchased digital content for their phone, 51% have purchased consumer electronics, 37% have purchased computers, 36% have purchased books, and 31% have purchased clothing. Smartphone and iPhone owners are comfortable using the mobile Internet to make purchases. 56% of Apple iPhone owners and 28% of smartphone owners already are comparing prices online with their mobile phones. Additionally, 27% of iPhone owners and 35% of smartphone owners anticipate that they will be comparing prices within two years.
European music sales down 8.3% in 2008
Despite global digital sales growing 24.1 % to $3.78 bln and performance income by 16.2% in 2008, European music sales finished down 8.3% at $18.4 bln after a 15.4% collapse in physical sales.
391.8 mln mobile subscribers in India in March 2009
Indian mobile operators added a record 15.64 mln customers in March 2009, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said. The mobile subscriber base in India rose by 50%, or more than 130 mln, to 391.8 mln.
US venture investments down 61% in Q1 2009
US venture capital investments sank 61% in Q1 2009, dropping to the lowest level in 12 years. VC investments totaled $3 bln in Q1 2009, according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Reuters. In Q1 2008, investments totaled $7.74 bln. This is the lowest quarterly level of venture investments since Q1 1997, when they totaled $2.96 bln.
10.5 mln BluRay players in the US in Q1 2009
About 9 mln high-definition units sold in the US in Q1 2009, up from the 4.8 mln that sold during Q1 2008, according to Adams Media Research. There are now 10.5 mln Blu-ray households, encompassing owners of both Blu-ray set-tops and Blu-ray-enabled PlayStation 3s.
US newspaper ads to decline 22% in 2009
Barclays Capital projects US newspaper advertising will decline 22% in 2009 and another 10% in 2010.
Infrastructure sharing to save companies $60 bln by 2014
ABI Research finds that the worldwide combined OPEX and CAPEX savings from active infrastructure sharing could amount to as much as $60 bln over the next five year period. The study finds that operators could enjoy at least 40% cost savings in addition to those available from passive site sharing.
$94 bln spent on home network-enabled devices in 2010
Total revenues for network connected devices will rise from about $74 bln in 2009 to over $94 bln in 2010, ABI Research reported.
IEEE 802.15.4 semiconductors to grow 79.6% by 2014
The market for IEEE 802.15.4 semiconductors, in both consumer electronics and commercial markets, is set for significant growth over the next five years as the standard becomes the foundation for a host of applications and systems. That growth will see 802.15.4 chipset shipments grow from nearly 15 mln in 2008 to nearly 499 mln in 2014, a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 79.6% over the period, ABI Research says.
Game play among parents and non-parents
Do you ever use any of the following to play games whether or not you personally have one?
| Parents | Non- Parents | |
| Desktop or laptop | 45% | 35% |
| Game console | 41 | 22 |
| Cell phone, Blackberry, or other handheld organizer | 25 | 16 |
| Portable gaming device | 21 | 10 |
| Source: Pew Internet Project | ||
Demographics of Social Network Users
The percentage of online Americans in each demographic category who have a profile on a social network website:
| All adults | 35% |
| Sex | |
| Men | 35 |
| Women | 35 |
| Age | |
| 18-24 | 75 |
| 25-34 | 57 |
| 35-44 | 30 |
| 45-54 | 19 |
| 55-64 | 10 |
| 65+ | 7 |
| Race | |
| White, non-Hispanic | 31 |
| Black, non-Hispanic | 43 |
| Hispanic | 48 |
| Annual Household Income | |
| Less than $30,000 | 45 |
| $30,000 – $49,999 | 38 |
| $50,000 – $74,999 | 30 |
| $75,000 + | 31 |
| Education | |
| Less than HS | 43 |
| HS grad | 31 |
| Some college | 41 |
| College grad | 33 |
| Locale | |
| Urban | 34 |
| Suburban | 26 |
| Rural | 23 |
| Source: Pew Internet Project | |
What TV shows Americans watched online in December 2008
| Program | Network | Unique Viewers (000) |
| Lost | ABC.com | 1,425 |
| Saturday Night Live | NBC.com | 1,111 |
| Grey’s Anatomy | ABC.com | 879 |
| Desperate Housewives | ABC.com | 723 |
| Heroes | NBC.com | 685 |
| Ugly Betty | ABC.com | 631 |
| Samantha Who? | ABC.com | 560 |
| Scrubs | ABC.com | 519 |
| Survivor | CBS Television | 496 |
| True Beauty | ABC.com | 462 |
| Source: Nielsen | ||
Top video sites in Germany in December 2008
| Property | Videos (000) | Share of Videos (%) | Videos per Viewer |
| Total Audience | 3,388,086 | 100.0% | 118.8 |
| Google Sites | 1,711,577 | 50.5% | 88.3 |
| ProSiebenSat1 Sites | 62,827 | 1.9% | 9.7 |
| Universal Music Group | 55,950 | 1.7% | 6.5 |
| RTL Group Sites | 34,414 | 1.0% | 8.4 |
| Megavideo.com | 31,154 | 0.9% | 15.1 |
| Microsoft Sites | 14,641 | 0.4% | 5.9 |
| Yahoo! Sites | 12,169 | 0.4% | 8.0 |
| Sport1 online | 11,963 | 0.4% | 33.6 |
| Dailymotion.com | 10,500 | 0.3% | 8.6 |
| Viacom Digital | 8,426 | 0.2% | 7.0 |
| Source: comScore | |||
Videogame revenues to reach $41.9 bln in 2009
IbisWorld said videogame industry revenue is set to reach $41.9 bln in 2009, having risen from $27.2 bln in 2004, with over 37 mln consoles sold in the United States alone in 2008.
Enterprise software to grow 0.3% in 2009
Worldwide enterprise software revenue is forecast to total $222.6 bln in 2009, reflecting a flat 0.3% growth rate from 2008 revenue of $221.9 bln, according to Gartner.
Fastest-growing sites in Gemany in January 2009
| Property | Jan-2008 | Jan-2009 | % Change |
| Total Internet : Total Audience | 33,904 | 37,646 | 11% |
| Yasni.de | 323 | 2,037 | 530% |
| Facebook.com | 556 | 3,143 | 465% |
| Pennergame.de | 697 | 1,793 | 157% |
| Quoka Verlag | 1,118 | 1,977 | 77% |
| The Mozilla Organization | 4,205 | 7,219 | 72% |
| Deutsche Post AG Sites | 2,752 | 4,033 | 47% |
| Preisroboter.de | 1,184 | 1,674 | 41% |
| United Online, Inc | 2,222 | 3,018 | 36% |
| Gameforge Sites | 1,805 | 2,442 | 35% |
| ZDF Sites | 1,824 | 2,342 | 28% |
| Source: comScore | |||