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Consumers unwilling to shell out for online services, says Jupiter
A new study by Jupiter Media Metrix, the Internet and new technology analysis and measurement agency, reports that more than two-thirds of US consumers would not pay for any services on the Internet, including enhanced e-mail, instant messaging or file-sharing capabilities.
The JMM report, entitled, ‘Paid Consumer Services: Assessing Market Opportunities’, consumers voiced greater resistance about paying for online services (69 per cent) than they did about paying for content (63 per cent). A study which preceded the report, found that although about one-third of online adults in the US use a free service as their primary personal e-mail account and over 60 per cent use an ISP, only 12 per cent expressed their willingness to pay for enhanced e-mail.
Jupiter senior analyst David Card says the research indicates that there is no obvious killer-application online service that consumers would pay for. “Companies should bundle online services and price them at less than thirty dollars per year. When transitioning from free to fee, service aggregators must solicit early consumer feedback and promote packages with e-mail aggressively,” he adds.
A March 2002 Jupiter Consumer Survey, he says, found that only eight per cent of online adults would pay to access recruitment and job sites; six per cent would pay for enhanced instant messaging and file-sharing capabilities. Respondents said they are least likely to pay for personals and dating services (two per cent). The study randomly surveyed over 2000 individuals for the purpose.
“With high consumer resistance in the air, companies that want to profit from online services should consider a menu approach, offering several courses or choices. To date, no portal or ISP has experimented with it – those that do will have a jump start on the market,” Card says. The survey indicates that consumers are less confused about where they might purchase online services than where they would purchase content. Consumers would feel most comfortable with paying their ISPs (47 per cent) or portals (16 per cent) for online services. According to Jupiter analysts, ISPs that have an existing billing relationship with their customers should have the easiest time selling services, with portals becoming other logical aggregators.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
