New comScore Tech Metrix Service Tracks Computer Hardware Configurations and Software Usage
RESTON, Va., Aug 01, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ --
comScore (Nasdaq: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced the launch of comScore Tech Metrix, a new service to provide a detailed view of Internet users' individual technology profiles, including computer hardware, software configurations, and usage.
The computer hardware/system information measured by comScore Tech Metrix includes: system manufacturer, processor name/type, operating system, service pack, CPU, RAM, hard drive size, CD rom or DVD drive, screen resolution, video and sound cards, and more. The software tracking includes: installed programs and version number, interactive duration, default browser and browser settings, number and size of data files, and multimedia file types.
comScore Tech Metrix will help hardware/software product development and marketing teams improve product planning and market more intelligently in the following ways:
-- Tailor product developments to customers' most common computer
configuration settings
-- Understand trends in adoption rates among various market segments
-- Track customer loyalty and emerging competitive threats
-- Determine product market share versus competitors
-- Design marketing programs based on deeper knowledge of one's customer
base
-- Identify cross-promotion opportunities
-- Facilitate more targeted, measurable and cost-effective online
campaigns
"comScore Tech Metrix represents comScore's first foray into non-Web based measurement," said Linda Boland Abraham, executive vice president at comScore. "This service will enable product developers and marketers to better tailor offerings to their core constituencies by understanding the technical underpinnings of their customers' computer usage. When combined with Web behavior profiles, Tech Metrix data will help marketers develop a granular perspective of the machine configuration and behavior of key customer segments, along with how and where to reach them on the Web."
Hard Drive Space Shows Gains since Beginning of 2007
The debut comScore Tech Metrix report revealed that the average hard drive capacity on U.S. computers is demonstrating steady and noticeable gains since the beginning of the year. The percentage of computers with at least 70 GB of hard drive space has increased from 33 percent of computers in January 2007 to 39 percent in April 2007. Meanwhile, the percentage of computers with less than 50 GB declined from 59 percent to 53 percent during the same period.
Hard Drive Capacity for U.S. Computers
January 2007 - April 2007
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore Tech Metrix
Percent of Computers
Hard Drive Capacity Jan-07 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07
0 - 29 GB 23.0% 20.9% 19.3% 18.7%
30 - 49 GB 36.3% 35.5% 35.2% 34.8%
50 - 69 GB 7.4% 7.5% 7.4% 7.2%
70 - 99 GB 22.0% 23.5% 24.7% 25.9%
100 GB + 11.3% 12.6% 13.5% 13.3%
MP3s Consume Average of 3 GB per U.S. Computer
comScore Tech Metrix also reports on the different file types residing on the computer. In April, the typical computer in the U.S. contained 880 mp3 files, which accounted for an average of 3 GB of hard drive space. The average computer also contained 197 Microsoft Word (.doc) documents, 100 PDF (.pdf) files, 77 Microsoft Excel (.xls) files, and 36 Windows Media (.wmv) files. The average Windows Media file size is 12.5 MB.
Popular File Types on U.S. Computers
April 2007
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore Tech Metrix
Average
Number of
Files Per Average Size Average Total
File Extension Computer Per File (MB) File Size (MB)
.mp3 880 4.78 2,988
.doc 197 0.23 34
.pdf 100 1.12 84
.xls 77 0.29 17
.wmv 36 1 2.49 329
Behavioral Profiling Capabilities
Another attractive aspect of comScore Tech Metrix is the ability to create user segments based on their technology profiles and to then analyze the online behavior of those segments. As an example, comScore profiled the online behavior of Heavy mp3 users compared to the average Internet user:
Behavioral Profile of Heavy mp3 Users*
April 2007
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore Tech Metrix
Percent of Unique Visitors Visiting Site Category
Site Category Average Heavy Index of Heavy
Internet mp3 mp3 to Total
User Users Internet Users**
Gaming Information 19.4 39.4 204
Online Gambling 5.0 9.3 187
Community - Teens 15.8 28.2 179
Entertainment - Humor 15.4 27.1 176
Retail - Music 11.9 20.7 173
Instant Messengers 30.5 51.6 169
Technology - News 22.1 36.7 166
Gay/Lesbian 1.3 2.1 165
Career - Training and
Education 5.6 8.9 161
Discussion/Chat 26.5 41.7 157
* Heavy mp3 users = top 50 percent of PC users with most mp3 files on
computer
** Index = Reach of Heavy mp3 users/ reach of average Internet users x
100; Index of 100 represents parity
As one might expect, the Heavy mp3 segment was significantly more likely to visit categories dealing in entertainment (gaming, gambling, humor, music) and communication/networking (community - teens, instant messengers, discussion/chat). Specifically, nearly 40 percent of Heavy mp3 users visited the gaming information category, more than twice as likely as the average Internet user. They also exhibited particularly heavy relative visitation to the online gambling, community - teens, and entertainment - humor categories.
While Heavy mp3 users are engaged with leisure pursuits online, Heavy Microsoft Word users have a markedly different behavioral profile:
Behavioral Profile of Heavy Microsoft Word Users*
April 2007
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore Tech Metrix
Percent of Unique Visitors Visiting Site Category
Site Category Average Heavy Index of Heavy MS
Internet MS Word Word to Total
User Users Internet Users**
Business/Finance - Taxes 5.2 8.5 163
Retail - Consumer Goods 13.8 20.6 150
Politics 4.9 7.1 145
Shipping 20.9 30.1 144
Travel - Airlines 17.0 23.6 139
Religion 11.3 15.6 137
Travel - Hotels/Resorts 19.0 25.6 135
Business/Finance -
News/Research 29.6 39.1 132
Business/Finance -
Online Trading 5.7 7.4 130
Business to Business 21.2 27.5 130
* Heavy MS Word users = top 50 percent of PC users with most MS Word
documents on computer
** Index = Reach of Heavy MS Word users/ reach of average Internet users x
100; Index of 100 represents parity
Their profile is highly indicative of business-oriented individuals, as evidenced by their likelihood of visiting categories dealing with business and finance (taxes, finance news/research, online trading, B-to-B) and travel (airlines, hotels/resorts).
For more information on comScore Tech Metrix, please visit http://www.comscore.com/contact
About comScore
comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world. This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than 2 million consumers who have given comScore permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its proprietary technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior and attitudes. comScore analysts apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI. comScore services are used by more than 700 clients, including global leaders such as AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo!, BBC, Carat, Cyworld, Deutsche Bank, France Telecom, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Financial Times, ESPN, Fox Sports, Nestle, Starcom, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, Verizon, ViaMichelin, Merck and Expedia. For more information, please visit http://www.comscore.com.
SOURCE comScore, Inc.
Andrew Lipsman of comScore, Inc., +1-312-775-6510, press@comscore.com
http://www.comscore.com
Copyright (C) 2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
News Provided by COMTEX