NPDTechworldSM Reports Improved
Software Sales During First Half '02
New Operating Systems, Virus Protection and Games
Software Drive Growth
PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, July 31, 2002
- Leading market
information provider NPDTechworldSM reported today that
dollar sales of retail computer software achieved healthy gains in
the first half of 2002 compared with the first half of 2001, with
significant revenue growth in business and games categories. In the
overall retail software market, software dollar sales approached the
$3 billion mark, improving five percent when compared with the same
period in 2001.
"The first half of the calendar year is typically a slower period
for retail software sales," said Steve Koenig, senior software
analyst, NPDTechworld. "Advancing revenues for the retail software
market during this period is a sign of health and suggests further
dollar expansion in the months ahead."
Strong sales of operating systems and virus detection titles
helped cultivate business software revenues over the past six months.
Retail revenues in the business software category eclipsed the $1.5
billion level, improving by nine percent during the first half of
2002.
Retail revenues from the sale of operating systems, including
Microsoft's Windows XP and Apple's OS X, increased 40 percent during
the first half of 2002. Dollar sales of virus detection software
titles through retail were 70 percent higher during the first six
months of 2002.
"New operating systems help drive software sales as consumers
look to upgrade their existing software to utilize the features of
the new OS," Koenig added. "The continuing proliferation of the
Internet among U.S. households, broadband in particular, has
elevated virus detection software from a valuable feature to a
mandatory utility."
Retail dollar sales of PC games climbed past the $600 million
level for the first time in the first half of 2002, beating 2001's
same period results by $20 million. Expansion packs for existing
games - a feature unique to the PC platform - continue to help drive
demand in the PC game arena. Koenig noted, "Growing revenues for PC
games demonstrate consumers are still buying games for their PCs."
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