Until now most research into how people use the net was based around home use. Now leading online research company Jupiter MMXI has started to track the sites and services people are using at work. Jupiter MMXI is basing its findings on a panel of 8,300 individuals. When it comes to searching the web, Google (www.google.com) comes out on top, while for news the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk) is the most popular service. One area which I always find fascinating is how Microsoft and its MSN sites and services including Hotmail always come top. When you take into account that most people leave the MSN or Microsoft homepage as their default home page on a browser, it really isn’t surprising it always ends up tops. What is also interesting is how, despite the high branding UK versions of US sites such as Yahoo and Lycos, people still go to the US versions.
The Press Association (www.pa.press.net) is getting into World Cup mood with news that it is offering a comprehensive package of World Cup coverage for its customers. PA will be delivering live audio, goal flashes and other text services for use on websites and mobile devices. Expect to see a flurry of other sites, including the BBC and Teamtalk, developing their World Cup coverage. It’s going to be a brave content provider who will charge for access in the face of competition giving away comprehensive information for nothing.
The BBC has just revealed that 40 per cent of people with access to digital TV have accessed BBCi interactive services. During 2001, it claims 8.1 million unique users accessed BBCi content, which included the corporation’s text service as well as Wimbledon and Walking with Beasts. Its interactive news service on BBC News 24 is also drawing in a younger crowd, appealing to 16-34 year-olds who are keen to have an engaging experience when seeing their news. "We’re extremely pleased with the take-up of BBCi applications to date – the challenge for us now is to apply what we’ve learned and continue to attract new interactive users across a number of different genres," said Scott Gronmark, head of Interactive TV. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the BBC’s Panorama programme will be offering viewers the chance to take part in an interactive debate on its investigation into the subject of the MMR vaccine. "For the first time, our viewers can air their comments, questions and concerns immediately after Panorama and put them directly to the experts on a live television programme," said Panorama editor Mike Robinson.
Leslie Bunder
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