GfK NOP research reveals most popular online brands in communication, entertainment and information services

The ‘Connected Life’ study, which asked 2,000 UK internet users about their favourite services, found 60% of music users stream music directly from the internet. While iTunes still leads the direct-streaming arena (17%), Spotify is coming up at a close second, with 12%.  Looking at all digital music users (not just direct streamers), 11% of these have used Spotify, making this fourth most popular digital music service, behind the more established Real Player (13%), Amazon (24%) and ITunes (50%). Another newcomer, Last.FM, also fares well with seven per cent having used the service; ahead of two of the pioneers of digital music mp3.com (5%) and Napster (4%).

Babita Earle, Divisional Director at GfK Technology comments:

“We’re finding that, while a few big, well-established brands tend to dominate, there are several newer services fast gaining ground and gaining market share. In all these online markets, where take-up of competitors’ services can rocket up exponentially through positive word of mouth on blogs and social networks, the big players will be keeping careful watch on these fast-moving, smaller challengers.”

Mapping and navigation is dominated by Google Maps, with 72% of those questioned having used the service. The AA follows with 40%, shortly ahead of Multimap (35%). No other brand scores in double digits – with Mapquest (7%), MSN Maps (4%), Yahoo Maps (4%) and Streetmap (3%) making up the rest of the top eight respectively.

While the dominance of Facebook in social networking is of little surprise, the extent of its popularity perhaps is. Almost three quarters (74%) of those questioned use Facebook as their main provider; with next in the list Myspace and Twitter scoring just 4% each. Bebo follows, with 2%, while a scattering of less popular networks each score 1% usage, or less, as the main provider.

Popularity in the Instant Messaging sector makes interesting reading – with the second favourite being via a social media network (16%); pointing to an increase in usage of IM as a result of the rise in social networking. MSN dominates the sector with 50% using them as their main provider, with Yahoo (8%) in third; followed by Skype (6%), AIM (5%) and Google Talk (2%).

MSN Hotmail’s long established lead in email remains strong – scoring 33% usage amongst those questioned. Yahoo (14%) follows in popularity; ahead of via media provider (10%) and via social network (6%). Google’s Gmail service records just 6% usage.

The Voice Over IP sector is topped by Skype – recording 60% usage – significantly ahead of its nearest rival Google Talk (13%). Just two other providers score more than 1% – VoIP.com and Gizmo, both with 3%.

Finally, pioneer Miniclip.com shares top spot in gaming with MSN Games – both recording 17% usage. Yahoo Games and Amazon follow (both with 15%); ahead of Addicting Games (10%) and ITunes (9%).

For more information about the Connected Life study please click here.

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Tags: Amazon, Babita Earle, Connected Life, , Gmail, , iTunes, last.fm, Mapquest, mp3, MSN Maps, Multimap, Myspace, Napster, Online Services, Research, Skype, Social Networks, Spotify