iTunes Software Installed Base Gaining on RealPlayer

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 22, 2006 - 4:39am.

Manhasset, N.Y. - Apple's iTunes music player software is approaching the installed base of rival RealNetworks' RealPlayer, but both remain far behind Microsoft's Windows Media Player, Information Week reported, citing Nielsen/NetRatings data. The number of iTunes users has more than tripled from 2005 to 2006 -- from 5.4 million to 18.6 million -- while RealPlayer counted 28.7 million users in January. If the iTunes user base continues this rate of growth, it will overtake RealPlayer later this year. Both media player applications are dwarfed by the installed base for Windows Media Player, which ships with every PC containing Microsoft's Windows operating system; the application claimed 71.1 million users in January. However, iTunes users on average spend more time using the software -- 111 minutes -- compared to the 46 minutes logged per session by RealPlayer or Windows Media Player users.
http://tinyurl.com/g38nz (Information Week)