49% of MP3 player owners have an iPod

A new survey shows that 49 percent of MP3 player owners own an iPod, offering yet another reminder of Apple's dominance in the portable music player market. The world-wide market for flash- and hard drive-based players is expected to soar from 140 million units in 2005 to 286 million by 2010, according to a report from DMasia.com. Falling price points, legitimate subscription and pay-per-download online music sites -- such as Apple's iTunes Music Store -- are drivers for the market, as well as increasing flash memory capacities and greater functionality. Sales of low-end, flash-based players were particularly strong in 2005, especially in Asian markets where some players sell for as little as $25, according to the report.

Filed under: industry