Nielsen//NetRatings Wednesday reported that more than 72% of the total U.S. online audience is using Internet applications. This suggests that nearly three quarters of all Web surfers have
incorporated Internet applications, including instant messengers, peer-to-peer file sharing and media player viewing, into their daily online experience. Windows Media player claimed the top spot for
all Internet applications, reaching more than 31% of the active online population and attracting nearly 41.5 million unique visitors at home and at work in November 2002. AOL Instant Messenger drew
more than 27.8 million surfers and was one of the stickiest applications, with the average user spending nearly four hours during the month using the service. RealOne Player/RealPlayer followed
closely with more than 27.2 million unique visitors, attracting nearly 21% of the active online population. Instant messaging applications from MSN and Yahoo! rounded out the top five, recording 22.7
million and 15.6 million unique visitors, respectively.
