Last month we let you know about SpbSoftware House's Pocket PC survey.  The purpose of the survey was to quiz users about their likes and dislikes of the Pocket PC and hopefully help guide the industry in the right direction to meet user expectations, since the results were to be made publiclly available.

Well, the results are out and they make interesting reading.

" October 7th, 2004 - Spb Software House announces the results of the first "Spb Pocket PC Survey", a global survey for Pocket PC users. More than 10,000 users took part in the survey; it has been a total success. We would like to thank all the survey participants. The results of this survey will help to understand Pocket PC users and their needs better.

Contributions to the Pocket PC community, like Pocket PC Developer Network and Spb Benchmark, are a big part of Spb Software House's strategy. In keeping with this vision, Spb makes the statistical results of this survey publicly available. Spb Pocket PC Survey will be conducted annually in September in order to see changes in the Pocket PC community from year to year.

All survey participants have been entered into a drawing to win either an HP iPAQ hx4700 or a $100 PocketGear software certificate. The winners are: Jim Castles (main prize), Martin Ruderisch and Jaroslav Salcer.

Here are some of the Spb Pocket PC Survey results.

The average age of survey respondents is about 35 years, and it is no surprise that nearly one fifth of Pocket PC users have computer related occupations. The most popular brands are HP iPAQ [57%] and Dell Axim [15%]. Our respondents have been using their Pocket PCs for an average of about 2 years. More than half of respondents have also used Palm devices. The results of the survey make it clear that Pocket PC use is a "family hobby" - that is, about 40% of respondents said that other members of their family also use a Pocket PC.

An overwhelming majority [93%] of Pocket PC users also purchase accessories for their devices, the most popular are:

• Memory cards [83%] (the most popular are 256 Mb Secure Digital Cards)
• Screen protectors [60%]
• Stylus [40%]
• GPS [30%]
• Keyboards [26%]

The question "What do you use your Pocket PC for?" gives the following results:

• Organizer [85%]
• Games [64%]
• Listening to music [60%]
• Browsing the Internet [57%]
• Reading e-books [53%]
• Only one seventh of respondents [14%] use their Pocket PC as a phone.

78% of Pocket PC users have ever purchased Pocket PC software. The most popular types of programs are:

• System Utilities [77%]
• File Explorer [56%]
• Office [55%]
• Travel and Maps [53%]
• Video [53%]
• Picture Viewer [51%]

The full results of Spb Pocket PC Survey results are available at:

http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/about/pressreleases/docs/spbsurvey2004.html

About Spb Software House

Spb Software House is a software development company, specializing mainly in Pocket PC software. Founded in 1999, the company offers advanced software solutions for use in a wide range of applications."