iPhone Users More Willing to Pay for Content

An interesting story in today’s Guardian. According to the Media Convergence Survey 2009 conducted by media law firm Olswang, iPhone owners show greater willingness to pay for content than the average Internet user:

The research … adds weight to the growing sense within the media industry that the explosion in popularity of downloadable applications for the Apple device has created a way of monetising digital content. Crucially, it may represent a more lucrative proposition than the current reliance on online advertising.

There is a catch, though, for content owners such as Rupert Murdoch, for whom factual journalism is a major product. Both iPhone owners and other Web users said they would be much happier paying for films, catch-up TV, e-books, travel guides and magazines than for news.