Europe indifferent to portable video

European consumers want music not video or games on their portable gadgets. According to Jupiter Research only a lowly five per cent of people would like a music player which could also play films.

A mere 13 per cent of people expressed any interest in a portable movie machine. But a third of people are interested in music players like the iPod. France is the most enthusiastic country with 39 per cent of French punters enthusing over portable music players. Brits came in second with 31 per cent.

Ian Fogg, personal technology and broadband analyst at Jupiter, told El Reg: "If consumers could get video added to their devices without adding any weight, size or price they'd go for it." Fogg said manufacturers need to add features which bring more to the music without damaging battery life or sound quality. He cited Apple's decision to include album art which, apart from its own value, makes it easier for punters to find their way round their own music collections.

Jupiter believes hardware manufacuturers should ignore hybrid devices and concentrate on improving sound quality on standalone music players. Jupiter spoke to 5,000 consumers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Separately Jupiter is predicting the value of the Europeam digital music market will leap from €10.6m at the end of 2003 to €836m by the end of 2009. ®

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