14% of Web Surfers Use Apple iTunes

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

6:30 am on January 23, 2006 | Category: Web Services, Mobile Devices

The Apple iTunes online music service is increasing in popularity all the time, with usage growing by 241% in 2005, and the total number of users topping 20 million by the end of the year.

According to market research firm, Nielsen//NetRatings, almost 14% of active internet users accessed the Apple iTunes application, and its related websites, in the month of December.

“The rapid growth of iTunes is an important phenomenon in the online media marketplace,” said Jon Gibs, who is the media analytics director of Nielsen//NetRatings. “Consumers have clearly indicated that they are eager to control their own music libraries, one song at a time.”

The next logical step for Apple is to make their service mainstream for web-enabled cell phone users. They tried to do this in partnership with Motorola, by co-releasing the ROKR phone. The first ROKR, however, never really stuck, and Motorola has now announced that they will be dumping iTunes, and creating their own mobile music service for use with future models.

Apple is now faced with the challenge of either finding another partner for the service, or creating their own in-house iTunes cell phone. Creating a so-called “iPhone” certainly won’t be easy, but as one of the world’s most influential brand names, Apple can make it work as well as anyone.