2007-09-29

6.6% of USA population?

I read the following statement of Peter Parkes, a Skype official blogger, on the Skype Blog:
"Skype reached its 20 millionth registered user in North America!"

As usual, let me correct this statement: they mean “registered user names”, not "registered users", and this isn't equal to "active users", see my explanation here in Skype Journal and on some of my previous posts!

Let us assume the numbers are however correct, this would mean that:
  • 8 % of the active Worldwide Skypers are from the USA
  • 6.6 % of the USA population are Skypers
  • 10 % of the “active” population of the USA are Skypers (discounting people older than 65 years, and younger than 14 years)
  • 8.6% of USA internet users are Skypers (not 10% like stated on the Skype blog!)
Bear in mind that the second, third and fourth numbers above are very exaggerated, and you can read why there are less active users than registered user names in my "Japanese blogpost"! I would like to add one reason to these:
  • Spammers also register multiple usernames to "attack" their victims
So, like always, this 20 million users statement is marketing exaggeration!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Creds to Ebay that in the financial reports usually points out that "Users may register more than once, and as a result, may have more than one account." Personally, I can imagine that many new "user accounts" are created during campaigns where the new user receives some free SkypeOut credits. Curiously enough, these campaigns usually give the new user only 5 minutes of talk, urging the new user to register as new user the very next time... / Stephan

Jean Mercier said...

Thanks for your comment Stephan.

I agree on your two comments. And indeed 5 minutes of talk isn't that much, not as an expense for Skype and not as a present for the potential customer. Anyway, i think a majority doesn't register a new username. But those who do, register many!

But, concerning the quarterly financial reports, who reads that? Unless you are a financial guy, a competitor or a freak?

And in the meantime Skype proclaims several times per quarter that they have 220 million users worldwide!

Anonymous said...

its all in the definition of "registered user". Its an industry practice, not just EBAY and Skype.

Anonymous said...

Niklas Zennstrom steps down as CEO of Skype and eBay paid about $530 mln to settle Skype earn-out agreement - instead of the maximum $2.4 billion Zennstrom and Co. had initially hoped for... Zenntrom gets about $375 out of the deal instad of 1.2 billion....

Stephan

Jean Mercier said...

"registered user" is perhaps an Industry Practice, but in the case of free user names or user accounts (like Skype has it) this is misleading. I will continue to protest ;-)

To Stephan: yes i saw it, but couldn't react earlier as i was working!