Study: digital maketplace new "main street"

The digital marketplace has reached a tipping point and become "the virtual main street of the world," according to a study released today.

The study is from IDC, a Framingham-based firm that provides market intelligence and advisory services, and the study states that the "Internet has created a new economic ecosystem - the Digital Marketplace."

Titled "The Landscape of the Digital Marketplace in 2007," the study noted that close to $2 trillion was exchanged in online transactions for goods and services in 2006 and that more than 70 percent of Americans use the Internet daily.

"The tipping point is being driven by increased consumer sophistication, commercial maturity, and technology readiness," Rachel Happe, research manager for IDC's Digital Marketplace program, said in a statement. "This will jump-start a new wave of adoption and growth, particularly in rich media content and social networking applications."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)