Oakland, Calif., leads the nation in the proportion of its personal computers that use high-speed Internet connections.

Nearly half -- 47% -- of the PCs in the MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) use either DSL or Cable Modems to connect to the Internet. San Jose, Calif., ranked second in high-speed access, and first on the MetaFacts TECHii score, which is a Technology Intensity Index that measures the concentration of technology products and services in households. Salt Lake City, ranked first in the nation in the percent of its households that have computer users.

"Many parts of the U.S. can't get high-speed Internet access even if they want it," said Dan Ness, principal analyst with MetaFacts. "Nationwide, only a quarter (25%) of U.S. households have high-speed Internet access. In the rural non-MSA areas outside of the 322 MSAs we track, that average drops to 15%. Also, nearly two-thirds -- 65% -- of dial-up users report spam email as a major concern, further adding to their frustration in enjoying the technology they've bought."

In related MetaFacts Technology User Profile results released today, digital cameras and cell phones are increasing in nationwide use, even while personal computer penetration is nearly flat at homes and slightly declining in the workplace. The percentage of U.S. Households with digital cameras has risen to 26%, up from 20% one year ago. Cell phone usage has increased to 65% of U.S. households, up from 62% one year ago. Use of home PCs has passed the halfway mark, rising to 51% of U.S. Adults, up from 50% one year ago. Workplace PC use declined slightly, dropping to 41% of households from 40% one year ago or 30% of U.S. adults from 31% one year ago. Use of any PC has remained flat, at 70% of U.S. households or 62% of U.S. adults.

Independent computer technology market watcher MetaFacts Inc. announced preliminary results from its 19th annual Technology User Profile 2003 Annual Edition survey at the 2003 USMSC symposium. The meeting, being held today at Hewlett Packard's corporate headquarters, includes strategy planners and analysts from the major technology industry firms and researchers.

The Technology User Profile study provides a detailed profile of how Americans use technology products such as computers, printers, digital cameras, the Internet, cellular phones and others. The first phase of the 2003 study includes results from 24,713 respondents, which makes it possible to leverage the service's database for sizing, demographics, segmentation, profiling and analysis.

MetaFacts is currently in the process of fielding the second phase of the annual survey, and the complete results will be released in the third quarter of 2003. A full report from the current first-phase results will be available at the end of May, 2003.

About MetaFacts Inc.:

MetaFacts Inc. is a full-service market research firm focusing exclusively on the technology industries. MetaFacts' Technology User Profile survey is the longest running, largest and most comprehensive study of its kind, with over 19 years of continuous research. The detailed results are widely recognized as a primary marketing resource for companies providing consumer-oriented technology products and services, such as PCs, printers, mobile devices and related services and products.

More information on obtaining results from Technology User Profile can be obtained by visiting http://www.metafacts.com or calling 760/635-4300.

USMSC is the United States Microcomputer Statistics Committee of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI).

MetaFacts, Technology User Profile, and TECHii are registered trademarks of MetaFacts Inc.