iTunes To Surpass RealPlayer By Mid-2007

According to research by analysts at Website Optimization, iTunes will surpass RealPlayer by mid-2007 to take the position as Number Two in the media player rankings behind Windows Media Player.

iTunes grew more than five times as fast as its nearest competitor in 2006, pitching in 47.5% user growth versus 9.1% for RealPlayer, 8.7% for QuickTime and 2% for Windows Media Player. At this rate iTunes should surpass RealPlayer by the middle of the year, but the mountain is steep yet for Apple’s iPod companion to reach the user share of Windows Media Player.

If the growth of iTunes can continue on a par with previous years, which Apple hopes it will with the launch of the next-generation of iPod, the iPhone and whatever new MacBook tricks the company has up its sleeve, then iTunes will next be making a serious gambit for Windows Media Player.