This study presents data and analysis from IDC's Consumer Markets: Audio Telephone Survey and Consumer Markets: Audio Web Survey, fielded in March 2006. The document provides an examination of survey responses related to portable compressed audio (MP3) player ownership, usage, and purchase intentions. Topics covered include portable flash and jukebox MP3 player penetration and purchase intentions, portable CD player penetration and purchase intentions, iPod ownership and purchase intention trends, and player music source and feature preferences.

These survey findings suggest that, today, penetration of portable flash- and hard drive-based MP3 players has nearly reached one-quarter of U.S. households, while at the same time, penetration of and demand for portable CD players remains relatively high.

• In This Study
  • Methodology
• Situation Overview
  • Portable Audio Device Penetration
    • Portable MP3 Players
    • Table: Number of Flash- and Hard Drive-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Flash- and Hard Drive-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Flash- and Hard Drive-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Flash-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Flash-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Flash-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Hard Drive-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Hard Drive-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Hard Drive-Based Portable MP3 Players Owned by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
    • Portable CD Players
    • Table: Number of Portable CD Players by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Portable CD Players by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Portable CD Players by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
    • Portable MP3 Player Ownership Trends
      • iPod Ownership
      • Table: Number of iPods Owned by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Number of iPods Owned by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Number of iPods Owned by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
      • Ease of Setup
      • Ease of Use
      • Table: Satisfaction with Ease of Portable MP3 Player Setup by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Satisfaction with Ease of Portable MP3 Player Setup by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Satisfaction with Ease of Portable MP3 Player Setup by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Satisfaction with Ease of Portable MP3 Player Use by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Satisfaction with Ease of Portable MP3 Player Use by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Satisfaction with Ease of Portable MP3 Player Use by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
      • Frequency of Use
      • Table: Frequency of Portable MP3 Player Use by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Frequency of Portable MP3 Player Use by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Frequency of Portable MP3 Player Use by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
      • Music Sources
      • Table: Primary Portable MP3 Player Music Source by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Primary Portable MP3 Player Music Source by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Primary Portable MP3 Player Music Source by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
      • Media Support: Digital Photo and Video
      • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players Owned That Support Digital Photos by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players That Support Digital Photos by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players That Support Digital Photos by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players That Support Digital Video by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players That Support Digital Video by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players That Support Digital Video by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
• Future Outlook
  • Portable Audio Device Purchase Intention
    • Portable MP3 Players
    • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players Intended for Purchase by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players Intended for Purchase by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Portable MP3 Players Intended for Purchase by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
    • Figure: Portable MP3 Player Purchase Intention Among Portable MP3 Player Owners
    • Figure: Portable MP3 Player Purchase Intention Among Portable MP3 Player Nonowners
    • Portable CD Players
    • Table: Number of Portable CD Players Intended for Purchase by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Portable CD Players Intended for Purchase by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
    • Table: Number of Portable CD Players Intended for Purchase by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
    • Portable MP3 Player Purchase Intention Trends
      • iPod Purchase Intention
      • Table: Intention to Purchase iPods by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Intention to Purchase iPods by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Intention to Purchase iPods by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
      • Feature Preferences
      • Table: Portable MP3 Player Feature Preferences by Gender and Age Group (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Portable MP3 Player Feature Preferences by Annual Household Income (% of Respondents)
      • Table: Portable MP3 Player Feature Preferences by Technology Access (% of Respondents)
• Essential Guidance
• Learn More
  • Related Research
  • Appendix
    • IDC's Consumer Markets: Audio Telephone Survey
      • Introduction
      • Screeners
      • Section 1 - Personal Computers, Home Networks, and Gaming Devices
      • Section 2 - Ownership/Intention to Buy: Portable Audio Devices
      • Section 3 - Ownership/Intention to Buy: Home Audio and Video Devices
      • Section 4 - Ownership/Intention to Buy: Automotive Audio Equipment
      • Section 5 - Demographics
    • IDC's Consumer Markets: Audio Web Survey
      • Introduction
      • Screeners
      • Section 1 - Personal Computers
      • Section 2 - Home Networking Technologies
      • Section 3 - Gaming Technologies
      • Section 4 - Portable Audio Technologies
      • Section 5 - Home Audio Technologies
      • Section 6 - Automotive and Other Audio Technologies
      • Section 7 - Music Consumption Behavior
        • General Music Consumption
        • PC-Related Music Consumption
        • MP3 Player Music Consumption
      • Section 9 - Demographics
  • Synopsis