Almost one fifth of internet users in western Europe are willing to pay for some online content, up from 16% a year ago, according to a Jupiter Research survey
The study revealed that reluctance to pay for downloadable content has fallen from 47% of users to 41%. Accordingly, western Europeans are predicted to spend €2.5 billion on digital content by 2007, up from €337 million in 2001.
High-speed internet users showed a greater inclination to purchase online content. For instance, a quarter of all respondents with broadband connections expressed an interest in buying music online, compared to just 18% of dial-up users. By the same token, 18% of broadband users said they would purchase video content but only 11% of narrowband users would follow suit.
“There has not been a dramatic shift in the minds of European Internet users when it comes to paying for online content, but rather a gradual change,” said Jupiter Research analyst Olivier Beauvillain. “The good news is that broadband appears to be the main driver behind this change – broadband Internet users are far more likely to pay for music, gaming and video content than dial-up users.”
