Many Germans Are On The Internet

Published: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

MANY GERMANS ARE ONLINE

Extensive Internet use in a market with potential

German-facing companies have long discovered that this is an attractive potential market for online gambling, and the latest eMarketer study on Internet usage is therefore of interest.

eMarketer's new study Germany Online shows that more than 83 percent of Germans aged 14-29 use the Internet. Usage is high for most age groups in the country, with 50 percent of those under 60 reportedly using the Web. Only those 60 and older are largely offline, with a mere 20 percent of that group using the Internet.

"In assessing the growth of the Internet, and e-commerce in particular, many marketers, as well as many analysts, tend to overlook Germany," says James Belcher, eMarketer Senior Analyst and author of the new Germany Online report.

"That's a mistake. Germany is the third-largest economy in the world, right behind the US and Japan, and what happens there - and when and why it happens - is vitally important to the growth of the Internet's infrastructure and economy."

More than two-thirds of working people are online in the country, and Internet capability is now a requirement for many jobs. At-work Internet users tend to be online at home, too.

"The Internet has a huge presence in German life, both public and professional, and Germany is a huge presence in the world economy," says Mr. Belcher. "Marketers who ignore these facts are missing a huge opportunity."

Germany's Internet users are also heavy online shoppers, making the country the largest e-commerce market in Western Europe. Comfort with the Internet has encouraged a nation of active online shoppers predicted to spend over $108 billion in 2008.

eMarketer's Germany Online report has a wealth of ainstakingly researched information, and is available at eMarketer.com.