The battle for the scalding-hot social networking space shows no sign of slowing down, and segment leader MySpace is continually beset by challengers, notably Bebo. According to Nielsen//NetRatings, MySpace and Bebo, respectively, are the fifth- and sixth-biggest brands online in terms of total web page views. During the month of April, MySpace had 2.84 million visitors, 680,000 more than Bebo. Since News Corp. purchased the site in July 2005, MySpace’s audience has grown 295 percent (see Murdoch Buys Intermix: $580M). Over the same time period, Bebo has seen a 162 percent jump in traffic. While MySpace remains the leading social networking site, its users also visit competing sites, and vice versa. According to NetRatings, 698,000 people visited both sites in April. Some 33 percent of Bebo users visit MySpace, while 25 percent of MySpace users visit Bebo. Crossover aside, each of the two sites is increasingly serving different types of users. Sixty-nine percent of MySpace’s audience is 18 or older. A majority of Bebo users (54 percent) are under 18. Both Bebo and MySpace have more than 1.2 million female users, but Bebo’s smaller size means a greater percentage of its users are women. Among social networking sites, Bebo reports the highest number of page views (429) and the greatest amount of time spent online (1 hour 52 minutes) per user each month. Bebo may see some success differentiating itself from MySpace, but competitors continue to make the market dynamic and uncertain (see The MySpace Wannabes).

SOURCE: Nielsen//NetRatings

Software Piracy Flat Worldwide

The percentage of PCu software used worldwide that has been obtained illegally continues to hover around 35 percent, IDC reported. During 2005, piracy produced an industry loss of $34 billion, up $1.6 billion from the previous year. But there are signs of improvement. Education, enforcement, and policy changes are beginning to pay off, according to IDC. Between 2004 and 2005, software piracy rates dropped in emerging economies like China (four points), Russia (four points), and India (two points). Slightly more than half of the 97 countries surveyed reported a decrease in their software piracy rates during the period, while only 19 countries noted increases. Worldwide numbers remained unchanged, meanwhile, mainly because piracy rates in the most dominant markets—the United States, Western Europe, and Japan—hardly moved. Among the regions studied, the highest regional piracy rates occurred in Central and Eastern Europe (69 percent), followed by Latin America (68 percent), the Middle East and Africa (57 percent), and Asia Pacific (54 percent). North America’s 22 percent piracy rate makes it the only region with a rate lower than the global average. Nevertheless, the sheer size of the U.S. software market meant it had the greatest individual loss: $6.9 billion. While researchers are encouraged by the declining piracy rates reported for the rapidly growing Chinese market, the country still has a long way to go. China’s staggering 86 percent software piracy rate led to the biggest individual loss of revenue behind the U.S., with 2005 numbers totaling $3.9 billion. In April, Chinese PC maker Lenovo announced an agreement with Microsoft to promote copyright protection in China (see Lenovo’s $1.2B Software Buy).

SOURCE: IDC

Mobile TV Audience Breakdown

More than 2 million wireless users in the United States subscribe to mobile TV, ClickZ reported, a mere 1.4 percent of the country’s user base. MobiTV and offerings from Sprint, Cingular, and Verizon Wireless are the major services. Mobile TV users are also emerging as a lucrative market, as they typically pay about $40 more each month on wireless services than typical mobile phone subscribers. Minority groups also pay for the services at a higher rate than general mobile subscribers. Hispanics comprise 23 percent of mobile TV subscribers, while they represent 10 percent of the general wireless user population. African Americans represent 19 percent of mobile TV users and comprise a mere 11 percent of all wireless users in the U.S. While Caucasians account for 72 percent of U.S. wireless subscribers, they make up only 47 percent of mobile TV subscribers.

SOURCE: ClickZ Network

Contact the writer:ROlson@RedHerring.com