Archive for November 3, 2008
IPhones, Internet radio grow with lower income users
More lower income people are buying IPhones and that’s great news for Internet radio.
According to a new comScore report, iPhone adoption since June 2008 rose 48 percent among those earning between $25,000 and $50,000 per year and by 46 percent among those earning between $25,000 and $75,000. These growth rates are three times that of those earning more than $100,000 per year.
Apparently, the high cost of the device is not a deterrent for lower income users because iPhone allows users to cut back on gadgets, and use one device for talking, accessing the internet, emailing, and accessing music. Comscore reports, “the number of people earning between $25,000 
and $50,000 accessing news and information via their mobile browser grew by five percent since June, while the market overall grew by three percent. comScore also reported seven percent growth in mobile e-mail usage and five percent growth in mobile music consumption among those earning between $25,000 and $50,000 per year.”
The fact that smartphones are beginning to penetrate new income levels is great news for Internet radio. To date, Internet radio’s audience remains largely upper income, well educated adults who listen at work. Trends like these will mobilize usage of streaming radio and grow Internet radio’s audience.
Both iPhone and Blackberry now offer wifi access. RIM launched the new Blackberry Bold this week with wifi access through its mobile partners, and AT&T just added wifi access to its data plan for iPhone users. Smartphones are becoming the all-in-one device, and Internet radio is a nice part of the package they have to offer – both the IPhone and the new Blackberry offer several applications that can easily access streaming radio. More listening in more places is a good trend for Internet radio.
