Press & PR

A new study has found that in the past year, over 80 per cent of UK residents have downloaded material of one form or another from the internet.

The survey by price comparison site moneysupermarket.com found that music was the most popular download area, with 58 per cent of men and 43 per cent of women stating that they had downloaded songs within the last 12 months.

Movies and music videos made up the other two types of downloads in the top three, while TV programmes, radio shows and podcasts also proved popular.

Rob Barnes, head of broadband and mobiles at the firm, said: "Our research reveals people’s appetite for downloading has grown and is now an everyday occurrence."

"It’s great to see the older generations are embracing technology and becoming accustomed to the internet and downloading," he continued.

The news follows a recent report in the Guardian which asserts that the popularity of video streaming services such the BBC's iPlayer has resulted in a 66 per cent increase in internet traffic.

VoIP services operate using comparatively low bandwidth requirements, allowing people to make cheap calls over the internet as well as downloading their favourite movies and music.

Vonage's V-Plan 1 service is available from just £5.99 a month.