BOSTON --(Business Wire)--

TNS Compete and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® today announced a new joint study, "Greying Gadgets: How Older Americans Shop for and Use Consumer Electronics." Consumers aged 50 and over number nearly 100 million and control billions in disposable income, making them an important market segment for technology manufacturers, retailers and service providers.

The study reveals that the age segments of 50-somethings, 60-somethings and 70+ use many technologies at or near comparable rates as younger age segments. Consumers in their 50s are as likely to own, or plan on buying, an HDTV as those under 50. Eighty percent of 60-somethings used a cell phone in the past week, nearly equal the usage rates of 18-34 year olds. Additionally, 71 percent of 60-somethings and 52 percent of 70-somethings used a search engine in the past week, compared to 77 percent of 18-34 year olds.

Not all technologies have comparable usage rates among age groups. Younger demographics are much more likely to play video games, use portable MP3 players and visit certain websites, and their usage rates of social networking sites nearly double the older age segments.

"In any environment, but particularly one with difficult market conditions, companies need to learn more about how to effectively reach this critical segment of older consumers," said Elaine Warner, director, consumer technologies, TNS Compete.

The study also showed that the majority of older Americans are comfortable researching and purchasing electronics products. Across all demographics, the Internet is an integral part of the research process. Older Americans do, however, rely more heavily on in-person information sources. Sixty-three percent spoke with a sales associate in-person when researching their consumer electronics purchase, compared to 47 percent of those aged 18-49.

Older consumers reported a higher level of frustration with the complexity of technology. Sixty percent of consumers aged 50 and older indicated that a product having too many features was a main reason for being frustrated with technology, compared to 39 percent of consumers aged 18-49.

"While satisfaction with CE products is high, frustrations do exist and this should be viewed as an opportunity for companies to seek ways to better address the technology needs of older Americans," said Tim Herbert, CEA's senior director of market research.

The Greying Gadgets: How Older Americans Shop for Consumer Electronics study was conducted online to a national sample of 3,135 U.S. adults during November 2008. The study was a collaboration between CEA and TNS Compete with TNS Compete fielding the study to their online consumer panel. For more information on the study, including its methodology and detailed results, join TNS Compete and the CEA for a webinar on Thursday, February 5th at 2pm EST or contact Elaine Warner: ewarner@compete.com. To register for the webinar visit: http://compete.na3.acrobat.com/cetech/event/event_info.html.

Older Americans and technology will be a point of discussion during the 2009 International CES. Produced by CEA, the 2009 International CES is the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow and returns to Las Vegas, January 8-11, 2009. The Silvers Summit Conference at CES is a full day of panel discussions, presentations and networking taking place Saturday January 10th starting at 8:30am at the Venetian Hotel. For more information, log on to www.CESweb.org, the interactive source for CES information.

For consumer electronics insights relevant to CES attendees and vendors, follow TNS Compete on Twitter at twitter.com/CESCompete.

About CEA

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $173 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,200 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA's industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.

About Compete, Inc.

Compete, a unit of TNS media, helps the world's top brands improve their marketing based on the online behavior of millions of consumers. Leading marketers such as Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Hyundai Motor America, Upromise, Chrysler, and Verizon Wireless rely on Compete's services to create effective online experiences and highly profitable advertising campaigns. Compete's online behavior database - the largest in the industry - makes the web as ingrained in marketing as it is in people's lives.

Compete was founded in 2000 and is located in Boston, MA, with offices throughout the U.S. For more information about us, please visit http://www.competeinc.com/, or to join the conversation visit http://www.compete.com/.

About TNS Media

Established in more than 30 countries, TNS Media explores all the media - print, radio, TV, Internet, social media, cinema and outdoors worldwide, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offers a full range of insights, analyses and audience measurement services.

TNS Media combines the deepest expertise in the industry to provide media and marketing intelligence including advertising expenditure monitoring, advertising creation monitoring, audience measurement, market influence analytics, online consumer behavior tracking, news monitoring, sports sponsorship evaluation and more. The TNS Media companies track more than 3 million brands and provide vital market intelligence to 16,000 customers in the world. http://www.tnsmediagroup.com

The Kantar Group

The Kantar Group is one of the world's largest research, insight and consultancy networks. By uniting the diverse talents of more than 20 specialist companies - including the recently-acquired TNS - the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and actionable insights for the global business community. Its 26,500 employees work across 80 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at each and every point of the consumer cycle. The group's services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies. The Kantar Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WPP Group plc. For further information, please visit http://www.kantargroup.com

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