Games overtake email as second top online time killer- US study

Games have overtaken e-mail as Americans’ number two online time killer for the first time, according to new research, with social networking coming top of the list.

Americans spend nearly a quarter of their time online on social networking sites and blogs, up from 15.8 percent just a year ago (43 percent increase) according to new research released from The Nielsen Company. The research revealed that Americans spend a third their online time (36 percent) communicating and networking across social networks, blogs, personal email and instant messaging.

“Despite the almost unlimited nature of what you can do on the web, 40 percent of U.S. online time is spent on just three activities – social networking, playing games and emailing leaving a whole lot of other sectors fighting for a declining share of the online pie,” said Nielsen analyst Dave Martin.

Read the full report of What Americans do online!

High street shoppers ‘taxed’ for not buying online

Shoppers are being hit by a “high street tax”, paying up to 70 per cent more for goods bought in store rather than online, according new research.

The study, from shopping comparison website PriceRunner, suggested shoppers are paying hundreds of pounds more for the privilege of shopping in store.

PriceRunner said the study indicates 95 per cent of all prices could be beaten online.

To read the full story log on to: Citizens Online

Tracking the Consumer Experience

Ofcom recently published its annual Consumer Experience evaluation and research report which looks at the overall experience of consumers in the communications market and show that consumers are finding new ways to save money on their phone, broadband and pay TV services.

Bundles

An increasing number of consumers are choosing to take discounted ‘bundles’ with their providers. In 2009, 35 per cent of consumers took a discounted ‘bundle’ compared to 30 per cent in 2008.

The research also found that some consumers could make significant savings by taking some or all of their phone, pay TV and broadband services from the same provider. Typical communications baskets for some groups of consumers revealed possible savings of between £88 and £140 a year.

‘Switching rates slowing down’

The research also shows that, despite consumers seeking better deals, there has been a large reduction in the proportion of those consumers who take bundles switching providers in last 12 months (from 24 to 13 per cent). More generally consumers are not switching as much in the communications sector as they are in other sectors such as energy and car insurance. 

To view the whole report log on to http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tce/

These are Ofcom’s annual reports into the consumer experience of the fixed and mobile, internet and digital broadcasting markets. The research report is aimed at measuring how well consumers are faring in respect of: choice, price and range; availability and take-up; awareness, comparing and switching; protection and concerns.

One person in two in the EU uses the internet daily

One person in two in the EU27 uses the internet daily, while for young people the proportion is three quarters.

Data published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, represent only a small part of the results of a survey on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) usage in households and by individuals in 2009

As well as internet use and broadband connections, the survey also covers other indicators such as e-shopping, e-government and advanced communication and content related services.

Household internet access ranges from 30% in Bulgaria to 90% in the Netherlands.

Nothing truly shocking about the figures – Scandinavian countries are at the top of this digital survey with the likes of Bulgaria and Greece still getting to grips with ‘Digitopia’.

However, Ireland was a bit of an anomaly, ranking only one percent above Greece in the youth usage survey.

To view the short results – log on to http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=STAT/09/176&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Quarter of World Online as Internet turns 40

According to a new report, 1.67 billion people have access to the internet as it reaches its 40th birthday.

These new figures estimating the number of users online is as of 30 June, 2009 and are according to the Internet World Stats website where they state that 1.67 billion people had access to the internet, around 25 percent of the world’s population.

However, that means 75% are not digitally included!

 source: Nomensa