iPod Touch browser share triples

29.12.2008
Apple Inc.'s over the last four days has almost tripled its share of the browser market compared to the first 24 days of December, according to a Web metrics company.

Net Applications Inc. for the iPod Touch averaged17% between Dec. 25 and Dec. 28, nearly three times the average of.06% for the period from Dec. 1 to Dec. 24.

The iPod Touch is the only model in Apple's music player line that can connect to the Internet via its stripped-down Safari browser. The device, which starts at $229, is nearly identical to the , and lacks only the smartphone's ability to make and receive calls, and to connect to a mobile carrier's data network. iPod Touch users can connect to the Internet via a wireless access point, such as those in many coffee shops and airports, or by using a home, school or company wireless network.

The surge in share may have come from iPod Touch players given as holiday gifts, although Net Applications has noted previously that all browsers except for Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer tend to , evenings and holidays. The phenomenon is caused by users leaving their work computers -- the bulk of which run IE -- and running alternative browsers on their home computers or other devices.

Apple's in the last four days, Net Applications' data showed. Since Dec. 25, the iPhone's share has averaged.65%, a jump of more than 50% from the Dec 1 to Dec. 24 average of.42%, and an increase of nearly 76% over its November share.

In October, called the iPod Touch and iPhone the to the growing sales of "netbooks," small, lightweight and low-priced computer notebooks.