Latest research shows how preferences for apps differ for smartphone and tablet owners.

London, 3 May 2012 New research by leading online research provider, Lightspeed Research (part of Kantar and WPP) shows social apps such as Facebook are used most frequently by smartphone owners with almost three quarters (73%) accessing social networks through apps daily and a further 19% at least weekly. By contrast, tablet owners are more likely to use functional apps such as business apps (63%) or finance / banking apps (56%) daily rather than social networking apps (32%), indicating that usage patterns of smartphones and tablet users are different.

Fun or functional?
The top three most used kinds of apps on a smartphone are social networking, news and weather. By comparison, for tablet owners the top three are games, business, and finance & banking.

Paid-for apps in demand, particularly by iPhone owners
Smartphone users are still willing to pay a premium for apps with 48% of all smartphone respondents reporting a mixture of both paid-for and free apps. However when this is split by device, iPhone users are significantly more likely to have a mixture of paid-for and free apps than Android users (71% v 35%).

Amongst those who have at least some paid-for apps on their phone, two thirds (66%) have paid for up to 30% of their apps, but only one in five (23%)has paid for 50% or more of their apps.

The most popular app price point is £3 or less
More than two thirds (69%) of smartphone or tablet owners who use paid-for apps have paid not more than £3 for an app. However the research reveals that one in ten smartphone or tablet users has paid more than £5 for an app, indicating that there is some level of demand for premium priced apps. Tablet owners spend more on apps than smartphone owners: 19% had spent more than £30 on them in the past six months. Just over one in four (42%) tablet owners had spent less than £10 in total buying apps over the past six months.

Multiscreen use increasingly popular
Nearly a third (31%) of smartphone or tablet users agree that they’re less likely to be paying 100% of their attention to the TV when its on – they’ll normally be using their smartphone or tablet at the same time, indicating that advertising on the variety of screens available to consumers is increasingly important for brands.

Ralph Risk, Marketing Director Europe says “It is clear that smartphone and tablet users are multi-taskers, with many using their devices to browse the web and update social networks whilst taking part in other activities, like watching TV. But with the different content usage and take-up rates on smartphones compared to tablets, brands and marketers need to ensure that they are providing apps that meet the different needs of consumers when using those two devices, be that business, gaming or social. ”

Ends

For press enquiries please contact:
Ralph Risk, Marketing Director Europe – Lightspeed Research
rrisk@lightspeedresearch.com Tel +44 (0)20 7896 1950 / +44 (0)7876 507689
Lucy Green, Greenfields Communications
lucy@greenfieldscommunications.com T: 07817 698366

About Lightspeed Research
Lightspeed Research is part of Kantar, the information insight and consultancy division of WPP.Lightspeed Research delivers valuable data to help clients make informed business decisions. With proprietary online panels throughout the world, our verified, engaged, and deeply profiled survey respondents can support research studies that vary in scope and complexity. Lightspeed Research’s expert Client Operations Team offers data collection services including survey design, sample management, programming and reporting. The company has offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

For more information, please visit www.lightspeedresearch.com.

Warren, NJ – Lightspeed Research today announced it has appointed Martin Filz as Managing Director for the EMEA Region of Global Market Insite, Inc. (GMI), a Lightspeed Research company.

Prior to joining GMI, Filz was Managing Director for EMEA and APAC at online sampling and data collection firm Research Now. Based in GMI’s London office, Filz reports to David Day, President and Global CEO of Lightspeed Research.

“Martin has a clear track record of success in developing businesses,” commented Day. “Not only has he demonstrated success in building new client relationships, but he also understands the importance of maintaining extraordinary service and support to existing clients. Both of these are paramount, as GMI continues to increase its market leadership in the region.”

Filz commented: “To join GMI and Lightspeed Research at this pivotal time in our industry’s evolution is a truly exciting opportunity. I’m looking forward to meeting the challenges ahead with the support and backing of what I’m confident is the best technology and team of online research experts in the business.“

Filz is a veteran of more than 15 years in leadership roles in digital marketing and market research. Prior to joining Research Now, he was a Director at Capgemini, Managing Director of digital marketing communications agency BlueFreeway, Managing Director, Northern Europe, for Nielsen//NetRatings, and Managing Director, Europe, at RedSherriff before its integration into Nielsen.

About GMI
GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) provides access to the right people at the right time to deliver the right results, empowering researchers and marketers worldwide to generate reliable, consistent and actionable information that enhances their decision making capability. Founded in 1999 in Bellevue, WA, GMI has operations in America, Europe and Asia Pacific. GMI became a Lightspeed Research company in 2011. For more information, please visit www.gmi-mr.com.

About Lightspeed Research
Lightspeed Research (www.lightspeedresearch.com) is the market researcher’s choice for digitally accessing and deriving insight from consumer opinions and behaviors whenever, wherever and in whatever segments needed. The industry’s most thorough panelist pre-screening process and large global pool delivers business-ready results quickly and cost-effectively. From proprietary online access panels to specialty panels, custom panels and innovative mobile surveys, Lightspeed Research offers the industry’s highest-quality and most complete combination of qualitative and quantitative online research. This is backed by an expert client operations team that provides a range of data collection services, from sample management and survey design to programming and reporting. Part of Kantar, a division of WPP, Lightspeed Research serves clients and cultivates online panelists across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Contact: Seth Ruoss
(302) 295-4957
sruoss@lightspeedresearch.com

London, 28. März 2012: iPhone und iPad Besitzer nutzen mehr und häufiger Apps als Android-Nutzer.

Eine aktuelle Konsumentenumfrage von Lightspeed Research verglich Apple- und Android-, Smartphone- und Tabletnutzer. Im Februar und März 2012 wurden 1003 Personen, die Teil des Online-Panels von Lightspeed Research sind, zu ihrer Einstellung zu mobilen Anwendungen befragt.

Den Umfrageergebnissen zufolge sind Apple-Nutzer Android-Handy oder Tablet-Nutzern weit voraus, wenn es um die Anzahl der Apps auf Geräten, um die Häufigkeit der Benutzung und die Bereitschaft dafür zu zahlen geht.

Die Anzahl der Anwendungen
Die Umfrage ergab, dass iPhone-Nutzer in der Regel mehr Apps auf ihrem Handy haben als Android-Nutzer. Auf den meisten Handys befinden sich 1 bis 20 Apps, vor allem auf den Android-Smartphones, von denen 64 Prozent mit dieser Anzahl Apps ausgestattet sind. Nur 47 Prozent der iPhone-Nutzer dagegen gaben an, 1 bis 20 Apps zu besitzen. Einige der befragten iPhone-Besitzer (20%) sind besonders scharf auf Anwendungen und sagten sie haben 40 und mehr Apps auf ihrem Handy. Im Vergleich dazu waren es nur 11 Prozent der Android-Handy Besitzer, die so viele Apps nutzen.

Die beliebtesten Apps
Auf die Frage nach den populärsten Apps antworteten die Befragten, dass sie Wetter-, Spiele- und Navigations-Anwendungen auf ihren Handys haben. Aber die beliebtesten Anwendungen waren nicht immer diejenigen, die am häufigsten verwendet werden. Social Media-, Nachrichten-, Messaging- und Wetter-Anwendungen werden laut Befragung am häufigsten eingesetzt.

Generell wurde durch die Umfrage herausgefunden, dass iPhone-Besitzer häufiger ihre Anwendungen täglich nutzen als Android-Nutzer. Dies betrifft vor allem den täglichen Gebrauch von Spiele-Apps (iPhone 43% verglichen mit Android 32%), Social-Networking-Anwendungen (76% verglichen mit iPhone Android 64%) und Messaging-Anwendungen (68% verglichen mit iPhone Android 51%).

Social Networking-Anwendungen sind besonders bei den 18- bis 34-Jährigen und den Frauen beliebt. Frauen mit Social-Networking-Anwendungen auf ihren Handys benutzen diese außerdem häufiger täglich, als Männer diese Anwendungen nutzen (73% verglichen mit 62%).

Würden Sie für eine App zahlen?
Der Anteil der Befragten, die ausschließlich kostenlose Apps auf ihrem Handy haben und derjenigen, die teilweise kostenpflichtige und kostenlose Apps nutzen, ist relativ gleich. Sehr wenige App-Nutzer haben ausschließlich kostenpflichtige Anwendungen auf ihren Handys.

Interessanterweise gab es auch hier wieder einen Unterschied zwischen Apple und Android. Android-Nutzer haben viel häufiger nur kostenlose Apps auf ihrem Handy als iPhone-Nutzer (64% Android verglichen mit 35% Apple). Zwei Drittel (66%) der iPhone-Nutzer besitzen zumindest ein paar kostenpflichtige Apps im Vergleich zu nur knapp über einem Drittel (36%) der Android-Nutzer. Außerdem haben iPhone-Besitzer häufiger einen höheren Anteil an kostenpflichtigen Anwendungen auf ihren Handys. Ein Viertel (25%) haben für 50 Prozent oder sogar mehr ihrer Anwendungen gezahlt. Im Vergleich zu nur 15 Prozent der Android-Nutzer, die bereit sind für 50 oder mehr Prozent ihrer Anwendungen zu zahlen.

Geht es jedoch um den Vergleich von Tablet-Computern und Smartphones, fand Lightspeed Research heraus, dass Tablet-Besitzer häufig dazu neigen mehr Geld für Anwendungen auszugeben als die Smartphone-Besitzer. In den letzten 6 Monaten gaben Tablet-Eigentümer an, mehr Geld für Anwendungen ausgegeben zu haben als die Smartphone-Besitzer. 13 Prozent der iPad-Besitzer gaben sogar 50 € und mehr aus.

Ralph Risk, Marketing Direktor von Lightspeed Research Europa sagt: “Die Umfrage gibt interessanten Aufschluss darüber, wo der Schwerpunkt für jede der verschiedenen Nutzertypen liegen sollte. Während mehr Geld bei iPhone und iPad Nutzer zu holen sein scheint, da diese bereit sind für Apps zu zahlen, sollten Android-Nutzer mit kostenlosen Apps nicht links liegen gelassen werden. Das Marketing kann kostenlose Apps nutzen, um rasch die Nutzerzahlen zu erhöhen und dann mit Instrumenten wie Click-Through-Anzeigen, Mobile-Payment-Lösungen, in-App-Warenverkauf oder einfach nur der Entwicklung einer Premium-Version, die kostenpflichtig ist, Geld zu machen.”

Für Presseanfragen kontaktieren Sie bitte:
Corinna Rogers, Greenfields Communications
crogers@greenfieldscommunications.com Tel +49 30 6483 8916

Ralph Risk, Marketing Director Europe – Lightspeed Research
rrisk@lightspeedresearch.com Tel +44 (0) 20 7896 1950 / +44 (0) 7876 507689

Hinweis an die Redaktion
Die Umfrage wurde im Februar/März 2012 durch das deutsche Online-Panel von Lightspeed Research durchgeführt. Es gab 1003 deutsche Befragte, von denen alle ein Tablet und/oder ein iPhone/Android Phone besitzen.

Informationen zu Lightspeed Research
Lightspeed Research ist ein weltweit führender Anbieter interaktiver Forschungslösungen und hat sich auf den Bereich der Online-, Mobil- und Panelforschung spezialisiert. Durch seine qualitativ hochwertigen Access-Panels ermöglicht Lightspeed Research den weltweiten Zugang zu mehreren Millionen Teilnehmern in Europa, Nordamerika und dem asiatisch-pazifischen Raum. Spezialpanels in den Bereichen Healthcare, Finanzen, Konsumgüter, B2B, Automobil, Familie, Telekommunikation, Medien, Sport, Unterhaltung und Freizeit sowie maßgeschneiderte Custom-Panels ermöglichen effiziente, flexible und kundenorientierte Lösungen.

Lightspeed Research bietet Markt-, Medien- und Meinungsforschern ein globales Angebot mit lokaler Betreuung durch die Niederlassungen in Hamburg, München, Wetzlar, London, Paris, Madrid, Mailand, Rotterdam, New Jersey, New York, Sydney, Peking, Seoul und Tokio. Lightspeed Research ist ein Mitglied von Kantar und WPP (LSE: WPP) (NASDAQ:WPPGY), eines der weltweit führenden Unternehmen für Kommunikationsdienste. Für weitere Informationen besuchen Sie bitte www.lightspeedresearch.com.

31% are likely to wait for pre-Christmas sales before buying all their gifts in 2012

London, 18th Jan 2012: As the January sales come to an end, Lightspeed Research has surveyed1000 people to understand how the retailers’ selling tactics in the lead up to Christmas 2011 are viewed by consumers. With many retailers slashing prices in the final run up to the big day, how many shoppers were frustrated and annoyed at seeing items they’d bought earlier reduced in price? And what impact will this have on Christmas shopping behaviour in 2012? Have these short-term tactics done long-term damage?

The research shows that 75% of respondents had bought most of their gifts by mid-December, with 15% waiting until two weeks before Christmas and 9% until the Christmas week to hit the stores. The remaining 1% left their shopping until Christmas Eve. 4% of 25-34 year olds and 2% of men fall into this ‘seat of pants’ category.

More than half always looked for a bargain in 2011

For Christmas 2011, bargain hunting was certainly an important consideration, with more than half (51%) of respondents admitting to ‘always’ looking for a bargain when shopping for gifts, a third (33%) ‘sometimes’ and only 4% ‘never’ seeking out an offer. With so many people concerned with saving money, it is perhaps no surprise that 18% of respondents waited until the pre-Christmas sales to do at least some of their gift shopping last year, rising to almost a quarter of 24-44 year olds. 37% of them bought Christmas gifts in the sales, 23% bought items for themselves or their home,and a super-organised 8% bought gifts for Christmas 2012.

Educating consumers to wait for the sales

21% of all respondents asked for money instead of gifts for Christmas 2011 (rising to 40% of 18-24 year olds)in order to buy what they wanted in the sales. However, this figure is set to rise by up to ten percentage points to 31for Christmas 2012. Half of 18-24 year olds surveyed already plan to ask for money or vouchers this year.

So what did the bargain-hungry shoppers think and do when they saw items they had already bought reduced in price before Christmas?

More than half (51%) took no action, but 12% asked for a refund and bought the item at the sale price, 11% had the retailer refund the difference and 8% got a refund and shopped elsewhere. Overall, 56% of consumers have a negative response to pre-Christmas sales, from feeling cheated, to stupid, to angry (see chart below). Notably, the ‘angry’ 16% said they were less likely to use the offending retailer again as a result.

42% said that that the pre- and post-Christmas sales have changed their approach to gift buying for Christmas 2012, with 15% much less likely to pay full price for gifts, 13% starting shopping closer to Christmas to take advantage of the sales and 8% only buying things on sale.

Ralph Risk, Marketing Director for Europe says “It may have been a cash-strapped Christmas for many in 2011, but our research seems to suggest that the tactics employed by some retailers to get shoppers to part with their cash at this crucial trading time may have stored up problems for the future. With the proliferation of daily deal schemes, pre-Christmas sales and other on-going promotions, consumers are getting used to not paying full price for items. Aggressive discounting may have an ongoing impact on brand and value perceptions meaning retailers find it more difficult to charge full price for items and in the long term may even erode their brand value.

The vast majority of people in our research had done their shopping by mid-December, and with these people making up 75% of the respondents, appealing to a minority by offering them discounts at the expense of upsetting the majority may cause more people to change their shopping habits, and their retailer loyalties in 2012.”

Ends

For press enquiries please contact:
Lynda Hardy Maskell, Greenfields Communications
lynda@greenfieldscommunications.com T: 07979 646020
Ralph Risk, Marketing Director Europe – Lightspeed Research
rrisk@lightspeedresearch.com Tel +44 (0)20 7896 1950 / +44 (0)7876 507689

About Lightspeed Research
Lightspeed Research delivers valuable data to help clients make informed business decisions. With proprietary online panels throughout the world, our verified, engaged, and deeply profiled survey respondents can support research studies that vary in scope and complexity. Lightspeed Research’s expert Client Operations Team offers data collection services including survey design, sample management, programming and reporting. The company has offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Lightspeed Research is part of Kantar, the information insight and consultancy division of WPP. For more information, please visit www.lightspeedresearch.com

Si la plupart des internautes restent inscrits, de nombreux comptes sont en réalité inactifs et 1/4 des utilisateurs diminuent leur temps passé

Paris, le 1er décembre 2011 : La dernière étude de Lightspeed Research (groupe WPP) s’intéresse à la baisse d’activité sur les sites de réseaux sociaux et examine plus spécifiquement le cas Facebook.

42% des utilisateurs de réseaux sociaux ont des comptes inactifs
Menée auprès de 1011 Français qui ont tous déjà eu un profil sur un réseau social, la dernière étude de Lightspeed Research révèle que seuls 10,5% des internautes ont complètement cessé d’utiliser les réseaux sociaux tandis que la grande majorité des internautes sondés (89,5%) continuent d’utiliser au moins un réseau social pour leur usage personnel ou professionnel.

Cependant parmi ces Français toujours adeptes des réseaux sociaux (soit 89,5% des internautes interrogés), 42% ont déjà cessé d’utiliser certains de leurs comptes utilisateurs. Les réseaux sociaux Copains d’avant suivi de Facebook et Twitter constituent notamment les sites les plus susceptibles d’avoir été totalement délaissés.

Les résultats montrent également que de nombreux comptes utilisateurs inactifs ne sont pas supprimés. Bien qu’une proportion importante d’internautes n’utilisent plus leurs profils sur certains réseaux, près de la moitié de ces inscrits (47%) n’ont pas pour autant supprimé leur compte inactif. Seulement 28% des personnes sondées ont effectivement fermé ce compte inutilisé tandis que 25% ne savent pas du tout ce qu’ils ont fait de ce profil désormais inactif.

Les premières brèches dans l’empire Facebook
L’étude analyse également le temps passé sur les sites de réseaux sociaux par rapport à l’an dernier. Sur Facebook près d’un tiers des membres (31%) diminuent progressivement leur temps passé par rapport à l’an dernier.
La grande majorité des membres (70%) affirment cependant passer autant ou plus de temps sur le site.

Au total, parmi l’ensemble des Français sondés et qui sont adeptes des réseaux sociaux pour leur usage personnel, 24% affirment avoir diminué leur temps passé par rapport à l’an dernier sur la même période. Dans le cadre d’une utilisation professionnelle des réseaux sociaux, 27% des internautes interrogés précisent qu’ils ont réduit leur temps passé sur ces sites comparé à l’année précédente. Des proportions qui sont donc légèrement inférieures à celles observées sur Facebook.

Ralph Risk, Directeur Marketing de Lightspeed Research Europe, commente :
« Comparé aux données obtenues pour l’ensemble des membres de réseaux sociaux sondés, nous constatons sur Facebook une proportion plus élevée d’inscrits qui ont diminué leur temps passé par rapport à l’an dernier. Cependant ces résultats doivent être nuancés puisque Facebook bénéficie aussi globalement d’une fréquence d’utilisation et d’un temps de visite beaucoup plus élevés que sur les autres réseaux sociaux. En effet, un utilisateur sur cinq passe en moyenne deux heures ou plus par jour sur Facebook et près de 40% des utilisateurs passent au moins une heure par jour sur le réseau. A titre de comparaison, seuls 24% des utilisateurs de Twitter passent une heure ou plus par jour sur le site. Dans ce contexte, on comprend mieux que certains membres puissent réduire leur temps passé. »

En effet, interrogés sur la raison principale pour laquelle ces internautes passent moins de temps sur Facebook, 15% des membres mentionnent tout simplement le manque de temps.
Mais la plupart des utilisateurs du site qui ont diminué leur temps passé évoquent aussi l’ennui (43%) tandis que près d’un quart (23%) précisent également qu’ils s’inquiétaient de la protection de leurs données personnelles.

Ralph Risk conclut : « Les sites de réseaux sociaux doivent faire face à un enjeu majeur sur les prochaines années : comment maintenir l’engouement, la fréquence d’utilisation et le temps passé une fois que l’effet nouveauté est dissipé et que d’autres réseaux font également leur entrée sur le marché. Un enjeu de taille puisque plus de la moitié des utilisateurs de réseaux sociaux interrogés (51%) précisent que rien ne leur ferait passer plus de temps sur ces sites. Ils estiment déjà y consacrer bien assez de temps.
L’ étude met cependant en lumière quelques pistes à explorer et qui pourraient inciter près d’un tiers des utilisateurs à passer plus de temps sur les réseaux sociaux comme proposer plus de contenu gratuit notamment vidéo ou plus de bonnes affaires. Un cinquième des internautes sondés affirment également qu’ils passeraient plus de temps sur ces sites si un nombre plus important de leurs amis étaient membres. Il reste donc à convaincre les plus réticents d’adhérer aux réseaux sociaux. »

Fin

30% junger Briten loggen sich auf Facebook ein, um Nachrichten zu lesen, verglichen mit nur 17% in Deutschland und 11% in Frankreich

Berlin, 30. November 2011: Facebook wird zum Schlüsselportal, besonders bei den Briten, wenn es ums Nachrichten lesen geht. Die Deutschen und Franzosen greifen jedoch eher auf “traditionelle” Medien zu.

Den neuesten Erkenntnissen von Lightspeed Research zufolge gehen 15 Prozent der Briten (die Anzahl steigt sogar auf 30 Prozent bei den 18-24 Jährigen) für Nachrichten zu Facebook. Im Vergleich dazu gaben nur 9 Prozent aller Verbraucher in Deutschland (Anstieg auf 17 Prozent bei den 18-24 Jährigen) und 6 Prozent in Frankreich (Anstieg auf 11 Prozent bei den 18-24 Jährigen) an, dass sie das soziale Netzwerk als Nachrichten-Quelle nutzen.

Lightspeed Research befragte im Oktober 2011 jeweils 1000 Verbraucher in Großbritannien, Deutschland und Frankreichvia Online-Panel zu ihrem Nachrichten-Konsumverhalten. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die Quellen fürs Nachrichten konsumieren von der Tageszeit abhängig sind und daher variieren. Während das Fernsehen in Großbritannien die dominierende Quelle für Nachrichten am Morgen ist, wird in Deutschland eher Frühstücksradio gehört – 46 Prozent der Deutschen schalten das Radio am Morgen zu Hause ein und 49 Prozent auf dem Weg zur Arbeit. In den Abendstunden wird in allen Ländern ferngesehen .

Insbesondere die 18-34 Jährigen wenden sich, wenn es um Nachrichten geht, zunehmend von den traditionellen Medien ab. Nur 36 Prozent der jungen Deutschen, 38 Prozent Briten aber immerhin 46 Prozent Franzosen sagen, dass das Fernsehgerät ihre wichtigste Quelle für Nachrichten ist. Online-Nachrichten holen den Fernseher dabei fast ein (25% Deutschland, 29% Großbritannien und Frankreich). Es gibt sogar einen Teil der Befragten, 12% der 18-34 jährigen Deutschen und Franzosen und 16 Prozent der 18-34 jährigen Briten, die angaben, dass sie gar keine Nachrichten im Fernsehen schauen. Ebenso fanden sich welche unter den 35-54 Jährigen (9 % in Deutschland und Frankreich, 12% in Großbritannien).

Die Umfrage zeigt auch, wie verschiedene Medienkanäle genutzt werden, um sich gegenseitig zu ergänzen. In allen Ländern gehen fast ein Dreiviertel (74 Prozent Deutschland und Großbritannien und in Frankreich 76 Prozent) der Befragen online, um mehr über eine Nachricht, die Sie im Fernsehen gesehen oder im Radio gehört haben zu lesen.

Ralph Risk, Marketing Direktor Lightspeed Research Europa sagt:, “Auch wenn die traditionellen Medien wie TV, Radio und Zeitungen auch weiterhin die Hauptnachrichtenquelle sind, haben sich die Möglichkeiten auf Welt-Neuigkeiten an verschiedenen Zeitpunkten des Tages zuzugreifen erweitert.

Was die Befragung ans Tageslicht gebracht hat ist, dass das Social-Networking-Phänomen sich auch auf den Nachrichtenkonsum auswirkt. Es mag zwar nicht verwunderlich sein, Facebook und Nachrichten besonders bei den 18-24 Jährigen beliebt ist, aber wir sehen hier dass auch andere Altersgruppen das Portal als Nachrichtenquelle nutzen. Am Ende eines durchschnittlichen Tages waren es immerhin 9 Prozent der deutschen Befragten, die über Facebook auf Nachrichten zugreifen – das ist ein signifikatner Anteil und wir erwarten, dass die Zahlen weiter steigen weiter.

Außerdem zeigt diese Untersuchung, wie wichtig es für die Medienmacher ist seine Konsumenten und deren Bedürfnisse zu verstehen, um ihre Marke zu etablieren und seine Leserschaft zu erweitern und zu erhalten.”

Ends

Für Presseanfragen kontaktieren Sie bitte:
Corinna Städel, Greenfields Communikation
cstadel@greenfieldscommunications.com Tel +49 30 6483 8916

Ralph Risk, Marketing Director Europe – Lightspeed Research
rrisk@lightspeedresearch.com Tel +44 (0) 20 7896 1950 / +44 (0) 7876 507689

Hinweis an die Redaktion
Die Umfrage im Oktober 2011 durch das deutsche Online-Panel von Lightspeed Research durchgeführt. Es gab 1003 deutsche Befragte.

Über Lightspeed Research
Informationen zu Lightspeed Research
Lightspeed Research ist ein weltweit führender Anbieter interaktiver Forschungslösungen und hat sich auf den Bereich der Online-, Mobil- und Panelforschung spezialisiert. Durch seine qualitativ hochwertigen Access-Panels ermöglicht Lightspeed Research den weltweiten Zugang zu mehreren Millionen Teilnehmern in Europa, Nordamerika und dem asiatisch-pazifischen Raum. Spezialpanels in den Bereichen Healthcare, Finanzen, Konsumgüter, B2B, Automobil, Familie, Telekommunikation, Medien, Sport, Unterhaltung und Freizeit sowie maßgeschneiderte Custom-Panels ermöglichen effiziente, flexible und kundenorientierte Lösungen.
Lightspeed Research bietet Markt-, Medien- und Meinungsforschern ein globales Angebotmit lokaler Betreuung durch die Niederlassungen in Hamburg, München, Wetzlar, London, Paris, Madrid, Mailand, Rotterdam, New Jersey, New York, Sydney, Peking, Seoul und Tokio. Lightspeed Research ist ein Mitglied von Kantar und WPP (LSE: WPP) (NASDAQ:WPPGY), eines der weltweit führenden Unternehmen für Kommunikationsdienste. Für weitere Informationen besuchen Sie bitte www.lightspeedresearch.com.

Some Card Issuers See Increases in Usage and Customer Satisfaction

 Cambridge, MA (November 14, 2011) – The newest trend in credit card rewards — offering customers double, triple, or even five-times as many rewards for certain types of spending — are most effective in everyday categories where people are most likely to be shopping anyway, according to a new research study by Lightspeed Research’s Financial Services Group.

The new 36-page report analyzes bonus category spending in 2010 and 2011 based on actual credit card purchase behavior drawn from Lightspeed Research’s Behavioral Tracking Panel.  It measures the impact of promotions, both on the number of accounts being used for purchases during the promotions and on customer satisfaction.

Category-specific promotions that offer from double to as much as five times cash back or points for spending in specific retail categories became a trend in credit card rewards over the past two years as issuers began cutting back on the standard earn rate on many rewards cards. As of late 2011, all top card issuers have tested at least one of these promotions.

Most issuers have promoted everyday categories like grocery, gas, and restaurant. And these, along with home improvement purchases, have typically been the most effective in driving up the percent of accounts being used for purchases in the category during the promotion. Quarterly promotions targeting bigger-ticket purchases made less often — department stores and travel, for example — are not as consistently effective, based on Lightspeed Research tracking data.

Bank of America, Discover, and Citi have seen a notable increase in the percent of accounts with purchases in promoted categories, most often for everyday purchases. Despite offering some of the highest caps on potential cash-back bonus earnings, Chase was less likely than Bank of America or Discover to see increases of 5 percentage points or more in the number of accounts with purchases in a promoted category.  But like its competitors, Chase did see slight increases in the percent of accounts with purchases, particularly when promoting everyday spending categories.

Customer Satisfaction Increases

Quarterly bonus promotions also increase customer satisfaction with rewards cards.  Fully two-thirds of cardholders who get offers for category-specific bonus rewards are very satisfied with their credit card, compared to just under half (48 percent) of those who don’t receive these offers.  Half of Discover customers say getting bonuses for spending in certain categories is one of the reasons they are satisfied with their cards.

To learn more about this study, contact David Gordon at (617) 431-5359 or dgordon@lightspeedresearch.com. 

 About This Study

The data source for this research brief is the Financial Services Group’s Behavioral Tracking Panel.

 About Lightspeed Research Financial Services Group

The Financial Services Group at Lightspeed Research is focused on helping retail financial services companies and other industry stakeholders make informed business decisions through custom survey research and tracking studies, competitive intelligence reports, and partnership strategy development. By gathering actual statement-level data through its proprietary Behavioral Tracking Panel, the Financial Services Group provides a “full wallet” view of U.S. consumer spending.

About Kantar

Kantar is one of the world’s largest insight, information and consultancy groups. By uniting the diverse talents of its 13 specialist companies, the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and inspirational insights for the global business community. Kantar works across 100 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at each and every point of the consumer cycle. The group’s services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies.

For further information, please visit us at www.kantar.com

Inquiries:
David Gordon
SVP, Business Development
Lightspeed Research, Inc.
Phone: +1 (617) 431-5359
Email: dgordon@lightspeedresearch.com

London, 7th November 2011: Newsflash:

Facebook is becoming a key news destination. According to the latest findings from Lightspeed Research, 15% of all consumers (rising to 30% of 18-24 year olds) turn to Facebook for their news at some point during the week.

Lightspeed Research surveyed 1000 people about their news consumption via their online panel during October. The results showed that sources of news vary depending on the time of day, with TV dominating in the morning, and radio on the commute to and from work. TV is king again at home in the evening, with Facebook now almost on a par with radio (10% vs 11%) for evening news. However, Facebook is starting to become a source for news for those who look online for updates.

At the moment younger consumers are the most likely to turn to social networking sites for their news, but getting a news update on Facebook is not just limited to 18-24 year olds. While 3% of all respondents first see their news on Facebook in the morning, the figure rises to 9% of 18-24 year olds. 4% of all respondents access Facebook for news while commuting, increasing to 11% of 18-24 year olds, and 10% of all respondents source news from Facebook once they are home in the evening, rising to 23% of 18-24 year olds.

The myriad of new devices available from which news can be accessed has altered consumption habits, with more people using laptops, mobile phones and tablets to obtain timely updates throughout the day while on the go.

18-34s are increasingly turning away from more ‘traditional’ media when it comes to news. Only 38% say TV is their main source of news, with online news sources almost as popular (29%). For one in ten Facebook is their main source of news. In fact, 16% of 18-34 year olds say they don’t watch news on TV at all, and neither do 12% of 35-54 year olds.

The research also highlights how different media channels are being used to supplement each other, with 74% going online to read more about a news story they heard on TV or radio.

Ralph Risk, Marketing Director of Lightspeed Research Europe, says: “Whilst traditional media like TV, radio and newspapers continue to dominate the way we consume news, the increasing number of ways in which we can access world updates has changed where we go for news at different times of the day.

What is revealing in this research is how the social networking phenomenon is impacting news consumption for everyone. It may not be that surprising that accessing news on Facebook is most popular with 18-24 year olds, but what we see here is how it is starting to become a news source for other age groups. By the end of an average day, 10% of all those we surveyed were turning to Facebook for news updates – that’s a significant proportion of people and a number we expect to continue to grow.

What this research also illustrates is how important it is for media outlets to understand how consumers want to gather news and adapt their routes to their brand if they are to retain and attract readers.”

Ends
For press enquiries please contact:
Ralph Risk, Marketing Director Europe – Lightspeed Research
rrisk@lightspeedresearch.com Tel +44 (0)20 7896 1950 / +44 (0)7876 507689

Cambridge, MA (September 8, 2011) – Customers of “daily deal” web sites are a solid target population for co-branded credit cards, according to a new research brief from the Financial Services Group at Lightspeed Research.

“The Opportunity for Daily Deal Credit Cards” reveals that more than one quarter (27%) of Living Social customers would be interested in a Living Social-branded credit card, while more than one third (34%) of Groupon customers would be interested in a Groupon-branded card.  Further, the research determined that daily deal customers’ creditworthiness and overall spending behaviors make them an attractive target from a credit product standpoint.  Relative to the overall U.S. credit cardholder population, Groupon and Living Social customers:

• Are about 50% more likely to have household incomes above $75,000
• Have higher credit scores
• Make three times as many credit card purchases
• Are about twice as likely to pay their monthly credit card balances in full

“There are no good proxies for a daily deal co-branded card, as there are with travel or traditional retail card products,” says Greg Flemming, Senior Vice President of the Financial Services Group.  “This unique analysis sheds light on important credit and spending attributes of prospective cardholders, and can inform product structuring, competitive positioning, and the overall viability of such a co-branded card.”

The study also revealed notable tendencies towards specific issuers and network branded products among daily deal customers.  In particular, there is a considerably higher incidence of American Express and Discover cards in daily deal customers’ wallets.

The Financial Services Group at Lightspeed Research is making “The Opportunity for Daily Deal Credit Cards” available to interested parties on a complimentary basis.  To obtain a copy of the brief, please contact Scott Kaplan at (617) 431-5362 or skaplan@lightspeedresearch.com.

About This Study

This research is based on two data sources:

• A nationwide survey of more than 1,500 U.S. consumers fielded between August 4th and 9th, 2011, with questions focusing on awareness and usage of daily deal web sites, daily deal site preferences, daily deal retail category purchase preferences, and level of interest in acquiring a credit card with a site-specific rewards program and additional deal-related purchase opportunities, were it to be offered by Groupon or Living Social.
• The Financial Services Group’s Behavioral Tracking Panel, through which statement-level data are passively gathered from the panelists’ credit card and debit card accounts on an ongoing basis with the panelists’ full consent.

About Lightspeed Research Financial Services Group

The Financial Services Group at Lightspeed Research is focused on helping retail financial services companies and other industry stakeholders make informed business decisions through custom survey research and tracking studies, competitive intelligence reports, and partnership strategy development. By gathering actual statement-level data through its proprietary Behavioral Tracking Panel, the Financial Services Group provides a “full wallet” view of U.S. consumer spending.

About Kantar

Kantar is one of the world’s largest insight, information and consultancy groups. By uniting the diverse talents of its 13 specialist companies, the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and inspirational insights for the global business community. Kantar works across 100 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at each and every point of the consumer cycle. The group’s services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies.

For further information, please visit us at www.kantar.com

Inquiries:
David Gordon
SVP, Business Development
Lightspeed Research, Inc.
Phone: +1 (617) 431-5359
Email: dgordon@lightspeedresearch.com

Warren, NJ (September 7, 2011) – Following the acquisition by its parent company, WPP-owned Kantar, of the stock of Global Market Insite, Inc. (“GMI”), Lightspeed Research announced today it will be aligned with GMI to create one of the world’s largest online panel and sample providers.  David Day, Lightspeed Research’s President and Global CEO, has been named President and Global CEO of the combined business.

Founded in 1999, GMI employs 230 people and is based in Bellevue, WA, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Boston, Vancouver, London, Paris, Den Bosch (the Netherlands), Munich, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Singapore.  GMI offers technology-enabled survey solutions, global panels and innovative survey methodologies that provide an integrated way for market researchers to tap into targeted consumer groups around the world, delivering highly accurate, reliable and repeatable results.

The acquisition of GMI adds panels in 13 countries, bringing Lightspeed Research’s global reach to over four million online panelists across proprietary panels in 38 countries.  Notable additions to the Lightspeed Research footprint include Brazil, Mexico and India along with numerous Asian markets.  Panel capacity in the U.S., Canada and the European ‘Big 5′ will grow significantly as a result of the acquisition.

“Uniting the assets of these two global leaders in the online panel market research industry strengthens our offer to clients through the size and reach of our panels. Our combined technology and market research expertise will put us in a strong position to address the significant growth and rapid change in our industry around the world,” said Day.

The combined company will continue to operate as both Lightspeed Research and GMI, conducting client business as usual through 2011. Lightspeed Research and GMI have begun planning the integration of the two company’s products, customers, and employees.  Client service and support will remain consistent through the acquisition and integration process.

“Our clients will be working with the largest global online sample provider that can deliver the most reliable, efficient and high-quality service available,” said Michael Brochu, CEO and President of GMI.  “This move will allow the combined company to meet our clients’ needs not only today, but well into the future.  Together, we will look to apply technology in new and innovative ways.  The businesses are highly complementary, and GMI brings a great deal of scale to the table, especially given our broad, global footprint across thousands of customers.  Both GMI and Lightspeed Research share similar philosophies with respect to service excellence and execution, online data quality and technology-enabled innovation as the means to deliver best-in-class service.”

Lightspeed Research is part of Kantar, the insight and consultancy group of WPP, a FTSE 100 and NASDAQ listed company.

Contact

Seth Ruoss, EVP, Global Marketing and Business Strategy
Lightspeed Research
+1 (302) 230-1512
sruoss@lightspeedresearch.com

About Lightspeed Research

Lightspeed Research (www.lightspeedresearch.com) is the market researcher’s choice for digitally accessing and deriving insight from consumer opinions and behaviors whenever, wherever and in whatever segments needed. The industry’s most thorough panelist pre-screening process and large global pool delivers business-ready results quickly and cost-effectively. From proprietary online access panels to specialty panels, custom panels and innovative mobile surveys, Lightspeed Research offers the industry’s highest-quality and most complete combination of qualitative and quantitative online research. This is backed by an expert client operations team that provides a range of data collection services, from sample management and survey design to programming and reporting. Lightspeed Research serves clients and cultivates online panelists across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Lightspeed Research is a unit of Kantar, which is part of WPP.

About Kantar

Kantar is one of the world’s largest insight, information and consultancy groups. By uniting the diverse talents of its 13 specialist companies, the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and inspirational insights for the global business community. Kantar works across 100 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at each and every point of the consumer cycle. The group’s services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies.

For further information, please visit us at www.kantar.com