English-Speaking Web Users a Minority on the Internet (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

English-Speaking Web Users a Minority on the Internet, Says Byte Level
Research

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/11/emw305575.htm

According to Byte Level's Internet Language Index, emerging markets are
putting the "world" into "World Wide Web." English-speakers now make up
less than 30% of all Internet users, and this percentage will continue
to fall.

(PRWEB) November 3, 2005 -- According to a new study published by Byte
Level Research, less than 30% of the world's Internet users are
native-English speakers. By 2010, that number will drop to less than
25% as such emerging markets as China, Russia, and Brazil drive
millions of non-English-speaking people to the Internet.

“This data makes clear that the next Internet revolution will not be in
English,” said John Yunker, president of Byte Level Research. "While
English isn't becoming any less important on the Internet, other
languages, such as Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese, are
becoming comparatively more important. Web globalization will become
increasingly vital to succeeding in this emerging global marketplace."

Of the roughly one billion people who now have Internet access, English
is spoken by 300 million, followed by 128 million Chinese speakers and
80 million Japanese speakers. Looking ahead, Chinese speakers online
will grow at the fastest pace, doubling over the next five years.

The Internet Language Index tracks 30 languages across 75 countries and
is a new regular feature of the monthly Web globalization publication
Global By Design. Members of the media may receive a full copy of the
index and methodology; please contact Annie Blaise at +1 (760)
317-2001.

About Global By Design
Global By Design is a paid monthly newsletter devoted to best practices
and innovations in business and content globalization. Subscribers to
Global By Design include FedEx, Panasonic, Dow Corning, Lionbridge,
SDL, Neteller, and many more. For more information, please visit
www.globalbydesign.com

About Byte Level Research
Byte Level Research, founded in 2000, is the world’s leading authority
on Web and content globalization. Serving many of the world’s leading
multinationals and their vendors, Byte Level has pioneered a number of
Web globalization best practices. John Yunker, president chief analyst
of Byte Level Research, is author of Beyond Borders: Web Globalization
Strategies.

###