According to a report from Digital River Inc. and element 5 AG, 67 percent of U.S. consumers prefer to purchase software online compared with 45 percent of European consumers.

The global survey of software consumers' online buying habits revealed an increasing interest in software downloads, trial versions, and post-purchase communications from software publishers. Approximately 18,000 customers of Digital River's and element 5 AG's clients participated in the annual survey.

Commenting on the results of the survey Digital River CEO Joel Ronning said in a statement, "These results highlight the increasing importance of electronic software delivery across international boundaries. They also are consistent with the historical trend toward early e-commerce adoption in the United States and the growing market opportunity in European geographies."

Of the participants in the survey, 90 percent purchase software at least once per year through online or offline channels. More than half, 59 percent, purchase software more frequently, buying a product at least every six months.

Trial versions of software are increasingly important in influencing consumer's purchasing decisions. Of the survey participants, 29 percent download trial versions at least once per month with 46 percent downloading a trial version at least once per year. Downloads lead to purchases -- 53 percent of those surveyed bought at least one of the five software products they downloaded for trial.

"Software buyers continue to express a high level of interest in trial versions," said element 5 AG president Gerrit Schumann in a statement. "For publishers, we believe this market response reflects the considerable impact online try-before-you-buy marketing strategies can have in boosting software distribution along with online revenue."

After purchasing software, consumers -- 86 percent of those responding to the 2003 survey -- want to receive information about updates and other software officers. The 2004 survey added depth to this number, revealing that 53 percent of consumers want to receive post-purchase information at least once per month. Twenty-five percent prefer to receive information quarterly. Among survey respondents, 39 percent indicated they would respond to offers within one day and 35 percent indicated a response time of one week.

"These results underscore the desire of software buyers to receive product information that is customized to their personal buying habits and preferences," Schumann's statement continued. "That is why software publishers should not underestimate the value of communicating special offers directly to their customers to not only build customer relationships and loyalty, but also online sales."

Digital River Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, provides e-commerce outsourcing services for software publishers, manufacturers, distributors, and online retailers. A wholly owned subsidiary of Digital River, element 5 AG is an outsourcing partner for software publishers, delivering e-commerce solutions and marketing services.